A national survey of 802 registered voters conducted for Pre-K Now in May 2008 found broad support for greater federal investments in state pre-kindergarten programs and recognition of the lasting benefits of early childhood education. Important survey findings include:
- Seven in 10 voters—and 7 in 10 swing voters—support a new federal grant to help states increase the quality and availability of their pre-k programs.
- Asked what makes a persuasive case for federal pre-k grants to states, 72 percent of voters found it very or fairly convincing that pre-k should be an opportunity for all children, including those from the middle-class families.
- Almost 7 in 10 voters want state and local governments to provide voluntary pre-k for all children.
- A large majority of every demographic—including 64% of Republican voters—said that a lack of high-quality pre-k programs in their community would be a problem.
The survey was conducted by a bipartisan team from Peter D. Hart Research Associates and American Viewpoint.
Select Survey Questions and Results
Note: Responses of "not sure" or other volunteered responses are not displayed in the charts below. Therefore, the response percentages for each question may not add up to 100 percent.
How important do you think it is for three-year-old children to spend time in a learning program outside the home?
How important do you think it is for four-year-old children to spend time in a learning program outside the home?
The following was read to survey respondents before the next question.
Throughout this survey I'm going to use the term "pre-kindergarten" or "pre-k." In a pre-kindergarten or pre-k program, children attend a learning program in which they engage in activities that encourage positive social and educational development in children their age. These are voluntary programs where they learn about letters, colors, shapes, and numbers. They are exposed to music, art, and science. They learn to listen to teachers and other children. They take turns and share. The program includes story time, snack time, nap time, teacher-organized play, and free play times.
Thinking of both public and private options, how many families in your neighborhood do you think can find and afford this type of pre-k program for their children?
If there were not enough affordable pre-kindergarten programs in your neighborhood and many parents who wanted to send their children to these programs could not, would you consider this to be a problem?
In your community, how many of the pre-k programs do you think are high quality, meaning they have highly trained teachers, positive learning environments, and they do a good job at educating children?
If in your neighborhood there were not enough high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, would you consider this to be a problem?
Please tell me which of the following statements you agree with more.
Statement A: Some people say that children who attend pre-k are better off throughout their school years and throughout their lives because quality pre-k teaches important basic skills and builds the confidence children need to meet educational and life challenges.
Statement B: Some people say that children who attend pre-k are better prepared for kindergarten and the early grades, but by third or fourth grade most children are on the same level, whether they attended quality pre-k or not.
Do you think that, over the long term, having more children attend pre-k would make the United States more competitive in the global economy, or would it not really have an impact on the United States' economic competitiveness?
People could consider a number of factors in deciding whether a pre-k program is high quality or not. Aside from the safety and cleanliness of the program, please tell me which one or two of the following factors would be most important for you personally in deciding whether or not a pre-k program is high quality.
Do you think that state and local governments should or should not fund voluntary pre-kindergarten for all families, just as they do now for kindergarten through twelfth grade?
Overall, do you think that state and local governments are doing too much, about the right amount, or too little to make sure that all parents have access to affordable pre-kindergarten programs for their young children?
Overall, do you think that the federal government is doing too much, about the right amount, or too little to make sure that all parents have access to affordable pre-kindergarten programs for their young children?
The following was read to survey respondents before the next question.
There currently is a proposal to have the federal government provide additional funding to what state and local governments already put into pre-kindergarten programs, to increase the quality and availability of these programs. The federal government would not run these programs, but to receive federal funding states would have to meet certain standards for their pre-k programs.
Would you favor or oppose the federal government adding funding to what state and local governments already put into pre-kindergarten programs?
It is estimated that this would cost an average of forty-five dollars per taxpayer. If this is the cost, do you favor or oppose the federal government providing additional funding to states for pre-kindergarten programs?
If a candidate running for Congress in your district supported increasing funding for pre-kindergarten, would you be more likely to support that candidate, less likely to support that candidate, or would it not make a difference to you either way?
Studies have shown that children's attendance in pre-k programs has benefits in a number of different areas. Please tell me which one or two of the following are the most important benefits of pre-k.
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