CA Latino Voter Poll: Early Learning is a Winning Issue
HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A
THETARRANCEGROUP
Key findings from statewide surveyConducted for
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 2
Latinos Voters In California
More than one third of California’s population is Latino.
Latinos will be California's largest ethnic group by 2020.
There are 5.4 million eligible Latino voters in California, 24% of all eligible voters in the state.
Starting in 2006, a majority of new registered voters in California have been Latinos.
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 3
Latino Voters in November 2010 Election
Latinos made up 22% of all voters in November’s election.
Latinos made the difference in some of California's most important races. Governor Jerry Brown – advantage among Latino
voters accounted for just over 7% advantage in the overall vote. He won by 11%.
Senator Barbara Boxer – Latinos accounted for just over 8% of advantage. She won by 9%.
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 4
Latino Children In California
Latino children account for more than half of all kids under age 5 in CA.
By 2025, Latinos will make up almost half of new labor force in CA.
Our state’s future depends on ensuring young Latino children have opportunity to access early education.
Builds foundation to excel in K-12.
Places on pathway to success in college, careers.
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 5
Survey Methodology
Statewide telephone survey conducted July 19 – 25, 2010, among 895 registered Latino voters in California.
Bilingual interviewers were used for all interviews; 252 respondents took the survey in Spanish.
Margin of error = ±3.4 percentage points.
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 6
43%
51%
54%
56%
66%
75%
75%
% saying each candidate description for governor/legislator appeals a great deal
Believes education is the pathway
to opportunityWill ensure children have opportunity to
get a great educationWill do what’s best
for CA families
Knows/looks out for CA Latino community
Will hold down taxes for average CA
Wants to invest in infrastructure for
CA futureFiscal conservative,
will make needed cuts to balance budget
Education Candidate Is Most Appealing
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 7
7% 22% 30% 39%
9% 21% 33% 35%
9% 23% 33% 33%
10% 22% 29% 36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Providing Latino children with same educational opportunities as others
Giving children the opportunity to get a good education
Providing children an education that will allow
them to compete/succeed in today’s economy
Ensuring students are grounded in the basics of
math, reading, writing
State Receives Poor Marks On Education
Excellent job Poor job Not sureGood job Fair job
Evaluation of California’s Performance in Selected Areas
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 8
Description of Preschool Programs: “Organized learning programs outside the home for young children that help children develop social skills and introduce them to early reading and math”
Importance of Attending Preschool before Kindergarten
Latinos Believe Preschool Is Important, Gives Children An Advantage
Children’s Advantage in School after Attending Preschool
49%
34%
17%Extremely important
Very important
Less important/ not sure
83%HIGHLY
IMPORTANT 14%
72%
14% Large advantage
86% CHILDREN HAVE
ADVANTAGESmall
advantage
No advantage/ not sure
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 9
Ready for Kindergarten: Greatest Gains for Kids Who Need It Most
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 10
22%
23%
50%
5%
California’s Efforts to Ensure Quality Preschool Available
and Affordable to All
California Not Doing Enough To Ensure Preschool Access
How many families in your community have access to affordable quality pre-school programs?
23%
5%7%
Doing too much
65%CA NOT DOING
ENOUGH
72% HALF/FEWER HAVE ACCESS
Not sure
Doing right
amount
Not sure All/
most
About half
Less than half/ very few
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 11
What Groups of Children Are Least Likely To Be In High-quality Preschool?
Percent of children in high-quality preschool that prepares them for success in school:
14% of Latino children 13% of low-income children 12% of children whose mothers have high school
diploma or less 5% of African American children
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 12
21%
25%
26%
28%
40%
52%
58%
% saying each is a major reason why some children might not attend preschool
Not enough affordable programs
Three-hour programs not long enough for
parents to workParents not aware of
available programs
No programs in my community
Teachers/staff don’t speak Spanish
Programs available here are poor quality
or unsafeBetter for kids to stay
home with relatives until kindergarten
Reasons Children Don’t Attend Preschool
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 13
Strong Support For Greater Preschool Investment, Even In Current Budget/ Economic Environment
13%9%
Support for CA Ensuring Low-Income Families Have Access to Voluntary, Quality Preschool
Stronglyfavor71%
84%
“Even though CA economy and budget are in bad shape, CA needs to continue to sup-port access to high-quality preschool to prepare children for success in kindergar-ten and beyond.”
91%
Stronglyagree75%
Favor Oppose Agree Disagree
Total Favor
DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans
87%87%68%
Total Agree
DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans
94%93%76%
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 14
Messages That Resonate With Latino Voters
Before age 5, children’s brains are like sponges, and they are eager to learn. We should take advantage of this important opportunity to stimulate and feed their minds. (89%)
Preschool helps kids develop social skills, cooperation, problem solving and a love of learning. (86%)
Attending preschool leads to better student performance, including better reading and math scores in kindergarten and beyond. (82%)
% saying the following are convincing arguments for why CA should make quality preschool more accessible and affordable
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 15
Latino Voters Support Candidates Who Support Preschool & Early Learning
17% 16%
Support for Candidate for Governor/Legislator who wants to:
Muchmorelikely50% 13%
21%
More likelyto support
INCREASE Funding For Preschool/Early Learning
DECREASE Funding for Preschool/Early Learning to Balance Budget
Makes nodifference
Less likelyto support
69%
Muchless
likely44%
More likelyto support
Makes nodifference
Less likelyto support
61%
Total More Likely
DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans
71%67%62%
Total Less Likely
DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans
65%59%52%
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 16
45%
48%
48%
53%
56%Will lead California
to a better future
Focused on the right priorities
Looking out for me and my family
Shares my values
Understands theLatino community
Profile Of A Pro-Preschool, Early Learning CandidateHow well does this describe a candidate who wants to increase funding to make quality preschool, early learning more affordable/accessible?
Describes pro-preschool candidate very well Describes fairly well
78%
74%
69%
69%
65%
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 17
Summary Of Key Findings
Education is a top priority for Latino voters as a pathway to opportunity, but Latino voters give California poor marks when it comes to providing those educational opportunities.
Latino voters see preschool as a critical piece of the state’s educational mission and believe preschool provides important benefits to children.
Latinos face multiple barriers to preschool, so even in the context of the state's fiscal challenges and competing priorities, Latino voters support expanding access to quality preschool.
Latino voters support candidates who support preschool and early learning funding, and would oppose candidates who would decrease such funding.
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 18
Looking Ahead: Supporting Our Future through Early Learning
Ensuring a successful future for California and the Los Angeles area means ensuring Latino children are ready to excel in school, college and careers.
California early learning policy priorities: Protecting current budget investments Development of quality rating scale to improve
school readiness and raise quality of existing programs
Transitional Kindergarten
CA Latino Voters and Preschool – July 2010 – Hart Research/Tarrance Group for 19
Ways to Get Involved and Show Your Support
Share poll results and other materials with colleagues and friends. All materials are available at www.preschoolcalifornia.org/latinopoll
Sign up for Preschool California’s email updates to learn about latest policy developments at www.preschoolcalifornia.org.
Talk with community members and leaders about the importance of early learning in Los Angeles County.
Join us at Preschool California’s Early Learning Advocacy Day in Sacramento on May 25, 2011.
Thank you!
Ernesto Saldaña, Statewide Field [email protected]
Rebecca Chamow, Local Communications [email protected]
HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A
THETARRANCEGROUP
More information at
www.preschoolcalifornia.org/latinopoll
Top Related