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Stand For Children
Indiana Voter Survey




                       Prepared By:
                       DHM Research
                       Prepared For:
                       Stand for Children
INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY

Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. (DHM Research) conducted a telephone survey of voters in the state of
Indiana on behalf of Stand for Children to assess voter support for Indiana Senate Bill 1, as well as other
education reform initiatives in the state.

Research Methodology: Between March 10 and March 14, 2011, DHM Research conducted a telephone
survey among 600 voters in Indiana. This is a sufficient sample size to assess voter opinions generally
and to review findings by multiple subgroups including age, gender, political party, and area of state.
The interviews averaged 18 minutes to administer.

In gathering responses, DHM employed quality control measures, including questionnaire pre-testing,
callbacks, and validations. In addition, quotas were established for age, gender, and area of state based
on the total population of voters in Indiana to ensure a representative sample.

Statement of Limitations: Any sampling of opinions or attitudes is subject to a margin of error, which
represents the difference between a sample of a given population and the total population (here, voters
in Indiana). For a sample size of 600, if respondents answered a particular question in the proportion of
90% one way and 10% the other, the margin of error would be +/-2.4%, at the 95% confidence level. If
they answered 50% each way, the margin of error would be +/- 4.0%.1

These plus-minus error margins represent differences between the sample and total population at a
confidence interval, or probability, calculated to be 95%. This means that there is a 95% probability that
the sample taken for this study would fall within the stated margins of error if compared with the results
achieved from surveying the entire population.

DHM Research: Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. has been providing opinion research and consultation
throughout the United States for over three decades. The firm is non-partisan and independent and
specializes in research projects to support public policy making. www.dhmresearch.com

SUMMARY & OBSERVATIONS

Voters are highly supportive of Senate Bill 1, and support increases after hearing reasons to support
and oppose components of the bill.
 • Sixty-seven percent (67%) support changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that
    only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on student academic
    growth and their level.
 • Overall support increased nine points to 76% at the end of the survey after being read reasons to
    support and oppose components of the bill. Support also increased by each subgroup between the
    first and final test, including teacher households (from 47% to 58%). This signifies that support is
    high, and that communications related to the bill resonate with voters.




1
 The reason for the difference lies in the fact that when response categories are relatively even in size, each is numerically
smaller, and thus slightly less able, on a statistical basis, to approximate the larger population.

                                                                                                                                 2
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Voters are highly supportive of specific components of Senate Bill 1.
 • Changes to evaluation requirements and criteria: Eight in 10 support changing the scale of teacher
    evaluations from “effective or ineffective” to “very effective, effective, needs improvement, and
    ineffective.” Similar numbers also support requiring annual evaluations for teachers, and changing
    teacher evaluations to include student academic growth as a factor, not just seniority.
 • Changes to acquiring permanent status: Eight in 10 (85%) support changing the rules of rewarding
    permanent status so that it is based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of just time in the
    classroom. Three-quarters support ensuring that only teachers who are effective at improving
    student academic growth are able to receive and keep their permanent status.
 • Flexibility in schools in hiring and dismissal practices: Nine in 10 support providing teachers and
    principals more flexibility to improve student achievement. Just under nine in 10 support schools
    not being forced to keep low-performing teachers and principals, giving schools the ability to hire
    teachers base on demonstrated teacher effectiveness instead of seniority or permanent status, and
    making sure that if budget cuts happen, teacher layoffs are based on teacher performance,
    including their ability to increase student academic growth, instead of just seniority.
 • Changes to teacher compensation criteria: Just fewer than nine in 10 support providing higher pay
    to educators who work in low-performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase
    student academic performance. Eight in 10 support providing higher pay to educators who teach in
    high priority subject areas like math and science that currently don’t have enough effective
    teachers, and similar numbers support changing teacher compensation decisions so that
    experience counts for one-third of performance criteria, and other criteria include student
    academic growth and teacher leadership.
 • Eight in 10 agree that basing teacher layoffs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will
    stay in the classroom, regardless of seniority or salary, with 55% who strongly agree.
 • Eight in 10 agree that it doesn’t make sense to award permanent job status to teachers unless
    they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth, and that
    teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is only granted after three years of
    teaching if the teacher has a proven track record of effectiveness in the classroom and increasing
    student academic growth.
KEY FINDINGS
Overall Support for Senate Bill 1

Voters were asked at the beginning (Q5) and end (Q39) of the survey if they would support or oppose
changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based on teacher seniority
and the remaining is based on a teacher’s ability to increase student academic growth and their level of
leadership in the district.

In the first test, before hearing reasons to support and oppose this change, 67% of voters either “strongly”
(42%) or “somewhat” (26%) supported this. Overall support increased nine points to 76% at the end of the
survey (strong: 48%; somewhat: 28%). Support also increased within all demographic groups.




                                                                                                         3
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Changing Teacher Compensation and Placement Criteria to Include Seniority, Increasing Academic Growth, and
                                   Leadership: First Test and Re-Test
      100%

       80%

       60%              48%
                  42%
       40%                           26% 28%
       20%                                                11% 8%                 15% 11%
                                                                                                 7% 5%
        0%
              Strongly support      Somewhat             Somewhat             Strongly oppose   Don't know
                                     support              oppose
                                           First Test                Re-test
                                           Source: DHM Research; March 2011


Support in educator households increased from 47% in the first test to 58% in the re-test. In addition, while
support is higher with infrequent voters compared to frequent voters in the initial test (72% vs. 62%),
support increased among both groups at the end of the survey (82% vs. 69%).

Support of Senate Bill 1 Components

Voters were told that the Indiana state legislature will be considering Senate Bill 1 in the 2011 legislative
session, and that this bill focuses on reforms to how teachers are evaluated, compensated, and their
placement (Q19).

Voters were then read a list of components of Senate Bill 1 and were asked their level of support for each
component (Q20-Q26). Strong majorities – between 71% and 88% – of voters supported each component,
however there are differences in the level of “strong” support.




                                                                                                             4
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Support of Senate Bill 1 Components


             Provide higher pay to educators who work in low
           performing or high poverty schools if they are able to              52%                     35%        6%5%
                                                                                                                     2%
                 increase student academic performance



        Change teacher evaluations to include student academic
                 growth as a factor, not just seniority                        52%                 31%           8% 7%3%



         Individual schools would have more flexibility in hiring
                             and dismissal                                    50%                  38%             7% 3%
                                                                                                                     3%



      Provide higher pay to educators who work in high priority
       subject areas like math and science that currently don't             43%                 37%            11% 7%3%
                   have enough effective teachers


             Change teacher compensation decisions so that
          experience counts for 1/3 of performance criteria, and
           other criteria include student academic growth and
                                                                            42%                 40%             9% 6%4%
                             teacher leadership
          Money previously allocated to teacher seniority and
        degrees earned would be redirected to reward teachers
       for students' success in the classroom, teacher leadership          38%               37%             11% 11% 4%
          assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority
                              subject areas


        Base teacher placement and dismissal on their ability to
               increase student academic performance                       37%              34%          13% 13% 3%



                                                               0%       20%           40%        60%          80%      100%
            Strongly support       Somewhat support         Somewhat oppose          Strongly oppose         Don't know
                                                Source: DHM Research; March 2011
Three proposals received a majority “strong” support. At the top, 88% of voters support providing higher
pay to educators who work in low-performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase student
academic performance, with 52% of voters who said they “strongly” support this. Five in 10 or more in each
demographic group “strongly” support this.

Next, 83% support changing teacher evaluations to include student academic growth as a factor, not just
seniority, with 52% of voters in “strong” support. “Strong” support is highest among voters ages 18 to 34
(54%) and 35 to 54 (55%), men (56%), Republicans (58%), Independents (55%), and non-teacher households
(57%).

Finally, 88% support individual schools having more flexibility in hiring and dismissal practices, with 50%
supporting this “strongly.”


                                                                                                                           5
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
More than three-quarters of frequent voters supported each of these three proposals, and close to nine in
10 infrequent voters said they support them.

The remaining components received “strong” support from approximately four in 10 voters. Findings are
also similar by voter propensity groups.

Just under eight in 10 (79%) support providing higher pay to educators who teach in high priority subject
areas like math and science that currently don’t have enough effective teachers, with 43% who are in
“strong” support.

Support is also strong for changing teacher compensation decisions so that experience counts for one-third
of performance criteria, and other criteria include student academic growth and teacher leadership (82%
support, 42% “strongly” so). Eight in 10 in each demographic group support this proposal with the exception
of educator households (67%).

Three-quarters (74%) support money previously allocated toward teacher seniority and degrees earned
being redirected to reward teachers for their students’ success in the classroom, teacher leadership
assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority areas, with support divided between “strong” (38%)
and “somewhat” (37%).

Finally, 71% either “strongly” (37%) or “somewhat” (34%) support basing teacher placement and dismissal
on their ability to increase student academic performance. This yielded slightly more differences in opinion
between demographic subgroups, with support higher among voters 18 to 34 and 35 to 54 in age than their
counterparts (83% and 73% vs. 61%), higher among men than women (76% vs. 66%), and higher among
Republicans and Independents than Democrats (78% and 72% vs. 62%).

It should also be noted that 50% of educator households said they support this.




                                                                                                       6
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Teacher Hiring and Dismissal
Voters were also asked which of the following statements comes closer to their point of view (Q38):

                               Basing Teacher Layoffs on Seniority or Effectiveness

       When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should
         make their decisions about which teachers to
            keep based on their effectiveness in the                                                       83%
       classroom and ability to increase student growth

       When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should
       make their decisions about which teachers to let               12%
          go based on their seniority in the district


                                             Don’t know              5%


                                                               0%         20%    40%       60%       80%         100%


                                             Source: DHM Research; March 2011


More than eight in 10 (83%) said that when faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their decisions
about which teachers to keep based on their effectiveness in the classroom and ability to increase student
growth (Q42). Approximately eight in 10 or more in each demographic group said this statement comes
closest to their point of view, with the exception of educator households (68%).

Indiana voters are in agreement with arguments regarding changing hiring and dismissal practices identified
in Senate Bill 1, with arguments against resonating significantly less (Q27-Q32).

                      Reasons to Support Hiring and Dismissal Components of Senate Bill 1

   Principals should be able to hire the teachers that
   wil best meet the needs of their school's students,
   and they should never be forced to hire a teacher                            76%                   16%
       they don’t think is a good fit for their school
      Basing teacher lay-offs on effectiveness means
     that the best teachers will stay in the classroom,                   55%                  27%     9% 7%
           regardless of their seniority or salary

    Basing teacher lay-offs on seniority alone means
    that teachers who are more effective may be let
    go because they haven't been teaching as long as
                                                                    29%         23%      18%         28%
              other, less effective teachers

                                                          0%          20%       40%      60%         80%         100%
        Strongly agree      Somewhat agree         Somewhat disagree            Strongly disagree     Don't know
                                             Source: DHM Research; March 2011




                                                                                                                        7
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Almost all voters (92%) agree that principals should be able to hire the teachers that will best meet the
needs of their school’s students, and they should never be forced to hire a teacher they don’t think is a
good fit for their school, with a full three-quarters (76%) who “strongly” agree with this.

It is worth noting that 91% of educator households agree with this, and 76% “strongly” agree.

Next, eight in 10 (82%) agree that basing teacher layoffs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will
stay in the classroom, regardless of seniority or salary. Slightly more than one-half (55%) “strongly” support
this, and support is high among all demographic groups, including 71% of educator households.

A slight majority (52%) agree that basing layoffs on seniority alone means that teachers who are more
effective may be let go because they haven’t been teacher as long as other, less effective teachers, with
voters split between “strong” (29%) and “somewhat” (23%) agreement. Findings are similar by demographic
group.

Teacher Permanent Status
Voters were told that Indiana public school teachers are awarded permanent status, which provides them
with a high level of job security after three years of teaching, and that this status is awarded regardless of
how effective they are at increasing student academic growth (Q33).

When asked if they would support or oppose changing the rules of rewarding permanent status so that it is
based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of just time in the classroom, 85% of Hoosiers gave their
support, with 61% who said they “strongly” support this.

                             Rewarding Permanent Status In Part on Effectiveness

                  100%

                   80%
                             61%
                   60%

                   40%
                                            24%
                   20%
                                                            6%                 6%          3%
                    0%
                            Strongly     Somewhat       Somewhat             Strongly   Don't know
                            support       support        oppose              oppose
                                          Source: DHM Research; March 2011


It should also be noted that 72% of educator households are in support of changing the rules of rewarding
permanent status in part on effectiveness.

Voters were read a list of reasons to support changing teacher permanent status criteria to include
teacher effectiveness and leadership and asked their level of agreement with each (Q34-Q37).




                                                                                                           8
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Permenant Status Should be Based on the Length of Time Spent in the Classroom

                               Somewhat
                                disagree
                                  30%
                                                                                  Strongly
                                                                                  disagree
                                                                                    37%

                            Somewhat
                              agree
                               20%
                                                                            Don't
                                            Strongly                        know
                                             agree                           3%
                                              10%
                                             Source: DHM Research; March 2011


Only 30% of voters agreed that the length of time a teacher spends in the classroom is critical to their
development and it makes sense to base awarding teaching permanent status solely on the length of time
they have been teaching, with 20% who agree only “somewhat.” Just over one-third (37%) of educator
households agree with this.

Voters were much more likely to agree with reasons to include performance and effectiveness in teacher
permanent status criteria.

                      Reasons to Support Changing Teacher Permanent Status Criteria

         It is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with
        permanent status than other teachers. Because of
        this, it doesn't make sense to award this job status               50%                      32%      8% 6%
        to teachers unless they have a proven track record
         of effectively increasing student academic growth
       Teacher permanent status rules should be changed
       so that it is only granted after 3 years of teaching if
             the teacher has a proven track record of                    43%                     38%        8% 8%
          effectiveness in the classroom and increasing
                      student academic growth

      Permanent status based solely on time served in the
         classroom means that we have teachers in the
       system who are not effective but who we cannot                   39%                25%       12%    20%
                     replace or dismiss


                                                                 0%      20%         40%      60%          80%      100%
         Strongly agree     Somewhat agree         Somewhat disagree            Strongly disagree      Don't know
                                             Source: DHM Research; March 2011
Agreement is also much higher for reasons to base teacher permanent status in part on effectiveness.
Eighty-three percent (83%) agree that it is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with permanent status


                                                                                                                       9
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
than other teachers and that because of this, it doesn’t make sense to award this job status to teachers
unless they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth. Five in 10 (50%)
agree “strongly.” Voters ages 18 to 34 (90%) and 35 to 54 (86%) have higher agreement levels than voters 55
and older (75%), as do Republicans (87%) and Independents (85%) compared to Democrats (77%).

It should be noted that 74% of educator households agree with this.

Eight in 10 (80%) of voters also agree that teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is
only granted after three years of teaching if the teacher has a proven track record of effectiveness in the
classroom and increasing student academic growth. Forty-three percent (43%) “strongly” agree with this.
Findings are similar between subgroups with the exception of age, as 18 to 34 (91%) have higher agreement
levels with this than voters 35 to 54 (81%) and 55 and older (75%).

Sixty-four percent (64%) also agree that permanent status based solely on time served in the classroom
means that we have teachers in the system who are not effective but who we cannot replace or dismiss,
with 39% who agree “strongly.” Democrats (56%) and voters ages 55 and older (59%) are the only two
groups whose agreement drops below 60%.




                                                                                                     10
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Appendix A
                             Indiana Voter Statewide Survey – Senate Bill 1
                                March 2011; N=600; all registered voters
                                   15 minutes +/-4.0 margin of error
                                            DHM Research

Hi, my name is _____________ calling on behalf of DHM Research, a public opinion research firm. I’m
calling about topics related to public education in the state of Indiana. May I please speak to (Name on
list; if unavailable schedule callback)

General Mood
1.     All in all, are things in the state of Indiana headed in the right direction or are things pretty much
       off on the wrong track?
                           Response Category                             N=600
                           Right direction                                 39%
                           Wrong track                                     49%
                           Don’t know                                      13%

2.      What about public K-12 education in the state. Are things headed in the right direction or are
        things pretty much off on the wrong track?
                         Response Category                           N=600
                         Right direction                              32%
                         Wrong track                                  56%
                         Don’t know                                   12%

3.      In general, is your impression of public school teachers in the state very favorable, somewhat
        favorable, not too favorable, or not at all favorable?
                          Response Category                            N=600
                          Very favorable                                 36%
                          Somewhat favorable                             50%
                          Not too favorable                              8%
                          Not at all favorable                           2%
                          Don’t know                                     4%




                                                                                                          11
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Teacher Evaluations – Baseline Attitudes
   4.        What do you consider to be the one most important factor to student success in Indiana’s
             public schools? (Open; accept 1 response)
      Response Category                                                                N=600
      Parental involvement/dedication towards their child’s education                   24%
      Having more quality/caring/dedicated/educated teachers                            20%
      Having better class size/student to teacher ratio                                  7%
      Focusing on individual students needs/more personalized education                  5%
      Adequate funding for educational resources                                         5%
      Having a good foundation/concentration on fundamentals/good curriculum             4%
      More consequences/higher discipline on students                                    3%
      Having a broad spectrum of subjects taught/not teaching to mandated tests          2%
      Changing educational methods/standards                                             2%
      Work ethic/more effort/students need to study more                                 2%
      Less administration and government focus/more focus on teachers and
                                                                                         2%
      what they are supposed to be doing
      Cooperation between teachers and parents                                           2%
      Teachers need resources to teach properly/updated resources                        2%
      All other responses                                                            1% or less
      Nothing/none                                                                       2%
      Don’t know                                                                         5%

    5.      Would you support or oppose changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so
            that only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on teachers’
            ability to increase student academic growth and their level of leadership in the district?
            (Wait and ask) Is that strongly (support/oppose) or somewhat (support/oppose)?
                           Response Category                          N=600
                           Strongly support                            42%
                           Somewhat support                            26%
                           Somewhat oppose                             11%
                           Strongly oppose                             15%
                           Don’t know                                   7%




                                                                                                         12
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
6.      How often do you think the performance of Indiana public school teachers should be
            evaluated in a 10-year period? (Record number)
                         Response Category                         N=600
                         1-3                                        20%
                         4-9                                        24%
                         10 - 11                                    48%
                         12 or more                                  4%
                         Don’t know                                  5%

    7.      It is up to the individual school districts in the state to determine how often teachers are
            evaluated. In general, are you not at all concerned, not too concerned, somewhat
            concerned, or very concerned that Indiana does not have set requirements for teacher
            evaluations?
                           Response Category                               N=600
                           Not at all concerned                             6%
                           Not too concerned                                10%
                           Somewhat concerned                               41%
                           Very concerned                                   42%
                           Don’t know                                       2%

    8.      In some public school districts in the state, teachers are evaluated every three to five years,
            and in other districts, teachers who have received permanent status are never evaluated.
            Knowing this, are you not at all concerned, not too concerned, somewhat concerned, or
            very concerned that Indiana does not have set requirements for teacher evaluations?
                         Response Category                              N=600
                         Not at all concerned                            4%
                         Not too concerned                               4%
                         Somewhat concerned                              32%
                         Very concerned                                  59%
                         Don’t know                                      2%

    9.      In some public schools in Indiana, teachers are evaluated once every three years. Do you
            think this too often, not often enough, or just about right?
                          Response Category                            N=600
                          Too often                                      2%
                          Not often enough                              52%
                          Just about right                              45%
                          Don’t know                                     1%




                                                                                                           13
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
I am going to read you a list of proposals to improve student success and teacher quality in Indiana’s
public schools. Please tell me if you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly
oppose each (Randomize Q10-Q18)
                                                                 Strongly       Smwt      Smwt    Strongly   Don’t
Response Category (N=600)                                        Support       Support   Oppose   Oppose     know
10. Make sure that if budget cuts happen, teacher layoffs are
based on teacher performance, including their ability to           57%          25%       8%        8%       3%
increase student academic growth, instead of just seniority.
11. Include student performance data as a factor in teacher
                                                                   38%          36%      11%       12%       3%
evaluations.
12. Ensure that only teachers who are effective at improving
student academic growth are able to receive and keep their         47%          29%      12%        9%       4%
permanent status.
13. Ensure schools are not forced to keep low-performing
                                                                   68%          21%       5%        4%       2%
teachers and principals.
14. Require annual evaluations for teachers.                       58%          25%      10%        6%       1%
15. Change the scale of teacher evaluations from “effective
or ineffective” to “very effective, effective, needs               55%          34%       4%        2%       5%
improvement, and ineffective.”
16. Reduce class sizes.                                            61%          24%       5%        4%       7%
17. Provide teachers and principals more flexibility to
                                                                   74%          22%       2%        1%       2%
improve student achievement in their schools.
18. Give schools the ability to hire teachers based on
demonstrated teacher effectiveness as opposed to teacher           64%          24%       6%        4%       4%
seniority or permanent status.

Support for Senate Bill 1
   19.      The Indiana state legislature will be considering passing Senate Bill 1 in the 2011 legislative
            session. This bill focuses on reforms to how teachers are evaluated, compensated, and their
            placement. Before I just mentioned it, had you heard of Senate Bill 1?
                          Response Category                            N=600
                          Yes                                           40%
                          No                                            58%
                          Don’t know                                    2%




                                                                                                              14
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
I am going to read you a list of components of Senate Bill 1. Please tell me if you strongly support,
  somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose each of the following components.
  (Randomize Q20-Q26)
                                                                    Strongly      Smwt      Smwt      Strongly   Don’t
Response Category (N=600)                                           Support      Support   Oppose     Oppose     know
20. Change teacher evaluations to include student academic
                                                                     52%          31%        8%         7%        3%
growth as a factor, not just seniority.
21. Change teacher compensation decisions so that experience
counts for one-third of performance criteria, and other criteria     42%          40%        9%         6%        4%
include student academic growth and teacher leadership.
22. Provide higher pay to educators who teach in high priority
subject areas like math and science that currently don’t have        43%          37%       11%         7%        3%
enough effective teachers.
23. Provide higher pay to educators who work in low-
performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase      52%          35%        6%         5%        2%
student academic performance.
24. Base teacher placement and dismissal on their ability to
                                                                     37%          34%       13%        13%        3%
increase student academic performance.
25. Money previously allocated toward teacher seniority and
degrees earned would be redirected to reward teaches for their
students’ success in the classroom, teacher leadership               38%          37%       11%        11%        4%
assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority subject
areas.
26. Individual schools would have more flexibility in hiring and
                                                                     50%          38%        7%         3%        3%
dismissal.

  Teacher Hiring & Dismissal
  I’d like to read you some statements about teacher seniority and protecting teachers. For each, please
  tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree. (Randomize
  Q27-Q32)
                                                                     Strongly     Smwt      Smwt      Strongly   Don’t
Response Category (n=600)                                             Agree       Agree    Disagree   Disagree   know
27. Teachers with seniority need to be protected otherwise
they will be forced out of jobs since less experienced teachers       22%         28%       25%        21%       5%
are paid less.
28. Teachers with more than three years of seniority in Indiana
public schools should have priority over newly hired teachers         24%         34%       21%        18%       4%
and outside applicants. They’ve earned that.
29. Compared to other problems like school funding and
classroom sizes, how teachers are hired and transferred is just        8%         23%       33%        30%       6%
not as important.
30. Principals should be able to hire the teachers that will best
meet the needs of their school’s students, and they should
                                                                      76%         16%        4%         2%       1%
never be forced to hire a teacher they don’t think is a good fit
for their school.
31.Basing teacher lay-offs on seniority alone means that
teachers who are more effective may be let go because they            29%         23%       18%        28%       4%
haven’t been teaching as long as other, less effective teachers.

                                                                                                                 15
  DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Strongly   Smwt     Smwt      Strongly    Don’t
 Response Category (n=600)                                             Agree     Agree   Disagree   Disagree    know
 32.Basing teacher lay-offs on effectiveness means that the best
 teachers will stay in the classroom, regardless of their seniority    55%       27%       9%         7%        2%
 or salary.

  Teacher Permanent Status
  Now I would like to ask you some questions about teacher permanent status. As I said earlier, Indiana K-
  12 public school teachers are awarded permanent status, which provides them with a high level of job
  security, after three years of teaching.

      33. Teacher permanent status in Indiana is currently awarded regardless of how effective teachers
             are at increasing student academic growth. Would you support or oppose changing the rules
             of rewarding permanent status so that it is based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of
             just time in the classroom? (Wait and ask) Is that somewhat (support/oppose) or strongly
             (support/oppose)?
                         Response Category                               N=600
                         Strongly support                                 61%
                         Somewhat support                                 24%
                         Somewhat oppose                                   6%
                         Strongly oppose                                   6%
                         Don’t know                                        3%

  I am going to read you some statements about permanent status. Please tell me if you strongly agree,
  somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each. (Randomize Q34-Q37)
                                                                      Strongly   Smwt     Smwt       Strongly    Don’t
Response Category (n=600)                                              Agree     Agree   Disagree    Disagree    know
34. The length of time a teacher spends in the classroom is
critical to their development and it makes sense to base
                                                                        10%       20%      30%        37%         3%
awarding teacher permanent status solely on the length of time
they have been teaching.
35. Permanent status based solely on time served in the
classroom means that we have teachers in the system who are             39%       25%      12%        20%         4%
not effective but who we cannot replace or dismiss.
36. Teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it
is only granted after three years of teaching if the teacher has a
                                                                        43%       38%       8%         8%         4%
proven track record of effectiveness in the classroom and
increasing student academic growth.
37. It is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with permanent
status than other teachers. Because of this, it doesn’t make sense
                                                                        50%       32%       8%         6%         3%
to award this job status to teachers unless they have a proven
track record of effectively increasing student academic growth.




                                                                                                                16
  DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
Support for Senate Bill 1 Concepts Validation
38.    Let me read you two statements about staffing in public schools during difficult financial times.
       Please tell me which one statement comes closer to your point of view. (Rotate statements;
       accept one)
          Response Category                                                        N=600
          A. When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their
              decisions about which teachers to let go based on their               12%
              seniority in the district.
          B. When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their
              decisions about which teachers to keep based on their
                                                                                    83%
              effectiveness in the classroom and ability to increase student
              growth.
          Don’t know                                                                 5%

39. Sometimes people change their mind after hearing more about an issue. Would you support or
       oppose changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based
       on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on teachers’ ability to increase student
       academic growth and their level of leadership in the district?
                      Response Category                               N=600
                      Strongly support                                 48%
                      Somewhat support                                 28%
                      Somewhat oppose                                   8%
                      Strongly oppose                                  11%
                      Don’t know                                        5%

Demographics
These last few questions are for statistical purposes only.

40. In what age category are you? (Read list)
                       Response Category                                 N=600
                       18-34                                              22%
                       35-54                                              39%
                       55-64                                              25%
                       65+                                                13%
                       Refused                                            1%

41. Gender (By observation)
                      Response Category                                 N=600
                      Male                                               48%
                      Female                                             52%




                                                                                                       17
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
42. When it comes to politics and voting, do you consider yourself to be more of a Democrat, more of a
    Republican, more of an Independent, or member of another party?
                        Response Category                             N=600
                        Democrat                                       28%
                        Republican                                     33%
                        Independent/Other party                        36%
                        Refused                                         4%

43. Vote propensity (From sample)
                        Response Category                               N=600
                        0 of 4                                           18%
                        1 of 4                                           18%
                        2 of 4                                           17%
                        3 of 4                                           23%
                        4 of 4                                           25%

44. County (From Sample; Code into area of state)
                     Response Category                                  N=600
                     Northern Indiana                                    32%
                     Indiana Metro area                                  26%
                     Central Indiana                                     23%
                     Southern Indiana                                    19%

45. Do you have children or grandchildren in the Indiana Public Schools? (specify children or
    grandchildren)
                        Response Category                            N=600
                        Yes, children                                 27%
                        Yes, grandchildren                            24%
                        No                                            49%
                        Don’t know/Refused                             0%

46. Are you or is anyone in your household a current or retired teacher?
                         Response Category                           N=600
                         Yes, self, current                            9%
                         Yes, self, retired                            4%
                         Yes, household, current                       8%
                         Yes, household, retired                       2%
                         No                                           78%
                         Don’t know/Refused                            0%

47. Do your or anyone in your household belong to a labor union?
                         Response Category                             N=600
                         Yes                                            22%
                         No                                             77%
                         Refused                                        1%



                                                                                                    18
DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011

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Senate bill 1 poll

  • 1. Stand For Children Indiana Voter Survey Prepared By: DHM Research Prepared For: Stand for Children
  • 2. INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. (DHM Research) conducted a telephone survey of voters in the state of Indiana on behalf of Stand for Children to assess voter support for Indiana Senate Bill 1, as well as other education reform initiatives in the state. Research Methodology: Between March 10 and March 14, 2011, DHM Research conducted a telephone survey among 600 voters in Indiana. This is a sufficient sample size to assess voter opinions generally and to review findings by multiple subgroups including age, gender, political party, and area of state. The interviews averaged 18 minutes to administer. In gathering responses, DHM employed quality control measures, including questionnaire pre-testing, callbacks, and validations. In addition, quotas were established for age, gender, and area of state based on the total population of voters in Indiana to ensure a representative sample. Statement of Limitations: Any sampling of opinions or attitudes is subject to a margin of error, which represents the difference between a sample of a given population and the total population (here, voters in Indiana). For a sample size of 600, if respondents answered a particular question in the proportion of 90% one way and 10% the other, the margin of error would be +/-2.4%, at the 95% confidence level. If they answered 50% each way, the margin of error would be +/- 4.0%.1 These plus-minus error margins represent differences between the sample and total population at a confidence interval, or probability, calculated to be 95%. This means that there is a 95% probability that the sample taken for this study would fall within the stated margins of error if compared with the results achieved from surveying the entire population. DHM Research: Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc. has been providing opinion research and consultation throughout the United States for over three decades. The firm is non-partisan and independent and specializes in research projects to support public policy making. www.dhmresearch.com SUMMARY & OBSERVATIONS Voters are highly supportive of Senate Bill 1, and support increases after hearing reasons to support and oppose components of the bill. • Sixty-seven percent (67%) support changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on student academic growth and their level. • Overall support increased nine points to 76% at the end of the survey after being read reasons to support and oppose components of the bill. Support also increased by each subgroup between the first and final test, including teacher households (from 47% to 58%). This signifies that support is high, and that communications related to the bill resonate with voters. 1 The reason for the difference lies in the fact that when response categories are relatively even in size, each is numerically smaller, and thus slightly less able, on a statistical basis, to approximate the larger population. 2 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 3. Voters are highly supportive of specific components of Senate Bill 1. • Changes to evaluation requirements and criteria: Eight in 10 support changing the scale of teacher evaluations from “effective or ineffective” to “very effective, effective, needs improvement, and ineffective.” Similar numbers also support requiring annual evaluations for teachers, and changing teacher evaluations to include student academic growth as a factor, not just seniority. • Changes to acquiring permanent status: Eight in 10 (85%) support changing the rules of rewarding permanent status so that it is based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of just time in the classroom. Three-quarters support ensuring that only teachers who are effective at improving student academic growth are able to receive and keep their permanent status. • Flexibility in schools in hiring and dismissal practices: Nine in 10 support providing teachers and principals more flexibility to improve student achievement. Just under nine in 10 support schools not being forced to keep low-performing teachers and principals, giving schools the ability to hire teachers base on demonstrated teacher effectiveness instead of seniority or permanent status, and making sure that if budget cuts happen, teacher layoffs are based on teacher performance, including their ability to increase student academic growth, instead of just seniority. • Changes to teacher compensation criteria: Just fewer than nine in 10 support providing higher pay to educators who work in low-performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase student academic performance. Eight in 10 support providing higher pay to educators who teach in high priority subject areas like math and science that currently don’t have enough effective teachers, and similar numbers support changing teacher compensation decisions so that experience counts for one-third of performance criteria, and other criteria include student academic growth and teacher leadership. • Eight in 10 agree that basing teacher layoffs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will stay in the classroom, regardless of seniority or salary, with 55% who strongly agree. • Eight in 10 agree that it doesn’t make sense to award permanent job status to teachers unless they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth, and that teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is only granted after three years of teaching if the teacher has a proven track record of effectiveness in the classroom and increasing student academic growth. KEY FINDINGS Overall Support for Senate Bill 1 Voters were asked at the beginning (Q5) and end (Q39) of the survey if they would support or oppose changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on a teacher’s ability to increase student academic growth and their level of leadership in the district. In the first test, before hearing reasons to support and oppose this change, 67% of voters either “strongly” (42%) or “somewhat” (26%) supported this. Overall support increased nine points to 76% at the end of the survey (strong: 48%; somewhat: 28%). Support also increased within all demographic groups. 3 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 4. Changing Teacher Compensation and Placement Criteria to Include Seniority, Increasing Academic Growth, and Leadership: First Test and Re-Test 100% 80% 60% 48% 42% 40% 26% 28% 20% 11% 8% 15% 11% 7% 5% 0% Strongly support Somewhat Somewhat Strongly oppose Don't know support oppose First Test Re-test Source: DHM Research; March 2011 Support in educator households increased from 47% in the first test to 58% in the re-test. In addition, while support is higher with infrequent voters compared to frequent voters in the initial test (72% vs. 62%), support increased among both groups at the end of the survey (82% vs. 69%). Support of Senate Bill 1 Components Voters were told that the Indiana state legislature will be considering Senate Bill 1 in the 2011 legislative session, and that this bill focuses on reforms to how teachers are evaluated, compensated, and their placement (Q19). Voters were then read a list of components of Senate Bill 1 and were asked their level of support for each component (Q20-Q26). Strong majorities – between 71% and 88% – of voters supported each component, however there are differences in the level of “strong” support. 4 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 5. Support of Senate Bill 1 Components Provide higher pay to educators who work in low performing or high poverty schools if they are able to 52% 35% 6%5% 2% increase student academic performance Change teacher evaluations to include student academic growth as a factor, not just seniority 52% 31% 8% 7%3% Individual schools would have more flexibility in hiring and dismissal 50% 38% 7% 3% 3% Provide higher pay to educators who work in high priority subject areas like math and science that currently don't 43% 37% 11% 7%3% have enough effective teachers Change teacher compensation decisions so that experience counts for 1/3 of performance criteria, and other criteria include student academic growth and 42% 40% 9% 6%4% teacher leadership Money previously allocated to teacher seniority and degrees earned would be redirected to reward teachers for students' success in the classroom, teacher leadership 38% 37% 11% 11% 4% assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority subject areas Base teacher placement and dismissal on their ability to increase student academic performance 37% 34% 13% 13% 3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Don't know Source: DHM Research; March 2011 Three proposals received a majority “strong” support. At the top, 88% of voters support providing higher pay to educators who work in low-performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase student academic performance, with 52% of voters who said they “strongly” support this. Five in 10 or more in each demographic group “strongly” support this. Next, 83% support changing teacher evaluations to include student academic growth as a factor, not just seniority, with 52% of voters in “strong” support. “Strong” support is highest among voters ages 18 to 34 (54%) and 35 to 54 (55%), men (56%), Republicans (58%), Independents (55%), and non-teacher households (57%). Finally, 88% support individual schools having more flexibility in hiring and dismissal practices, with 50% supporting this “strongly.” 5 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 6. More than three-quarters of frequent voters supported each of these three proposals, and close to nine in 10 infrequent voters said they support them. The remaining components received “strong” support from approximately four in 10 voters. Findings are also similar by voter propensity groups. Just under eight in 10 (79%) support providing higher pay to educators who teach in high priority subject areas like math and science that currently don’t have enough effective teachers, with 43% who are in “strong” support. Support is also strong for changing teacher compensation decisions so that experience counts for one-third of performance criteria, and other criteria include student academic growth and teacher leadership (82% support, 42% “strongly” so). Eight in 10 in each demographic group support this proposal with the exception of educator households (67%). Three-quarters (74%) support money previously allocated toward teacher seniority and degrees earned being redirected to reward teachers for their students’ success in the classroom, teacher leadership assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority areas, with support divided between “strong” (38%) and “somewhat” (37%). Finally, 71% either “strongly” (37%) or “somewhat” (34%) support basing teacher placement and dismissal on their ability to increase student academic performance. This yielded slightly more differences in opinion between demographic subgroups, with support higher among voters 18 to 34 and 35 to 54 in age than their counterparts (83% and 73% vs. 61%), higher among men than women (76% vs. 66%), and higher among Republicans and Independents than Democrats (78% and 72% vs. 62%). It should also be noted that 50% of educator households said they support this. 6 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 7. Teacher Hiring and Dismissal Voters were also asked which of the following statements comes closer to their point of view (Q38): Basing Teacher Layoffs on Seniority or Effectiveness When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their decisions about which teachers to keep based on their effectiveness in the 83% classroom and ability to increase student growth When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their decisions about which teachers to let 12% go based on their seniority in the district Don’t know 5% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: DHM Research; March 2011 More than eight in 10 (83%) said that when faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their decisions about which teachers to keep based on their effectiveness in the classroom and ability to increase student growth (Q42). Approximately eight in 10 or more in each demographic group said this statement comes closest to their point of view, with the exception of educator households (68%). Indiana voters are in agreement with arguments regarding changing hiring and dismissal practices identified in Senate Bill 1, with arguments against resonating significantly less (Q27-Q32). Reasons to Support Hiring and Dismissal Components of Senate Bill 1 Principals should be able to hire the teachers that wil best meet the needs of their school's students, and they should never be forced to hire a teacher 76% 16% they don’t think is a good fit for their school Basing teacher lay-offs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will stay in the classroom, 55% 27% 9% 7% regardless of their seniority or salary Basing teacher lay-offs on seniority alone means that teachers who are more effective may be let go because they haven't been teaching as long as 29% 23% 18% 28% other, less effective teachers 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know Source: DHM Research; March 2011 7 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 8. Almost all voters (92%) agree that principals should be able to hire the teachers that will best meet the needs of their school’s students, and they should never be forced to hire a teacher they don’t think is a good fit for their school, with a full three-quarters (76%) who “strongly” agree with this. It is worth noting that 91% of educator households agree with this, and 76% “strongly” agree. Next, eight in 10 (82%) agree that basing teacher layoffs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will stay in the classroom, regardless of seniority or salary. Slightly more than one-half (55%) “strongly” support this, and support is high among all demographic groups, including 71% of educator households. A slight majority (52%) agree that basing layoffs on seniority alone means that teachers who are more effective may be let go because they haven’t been teacher as long as other, less effective teachers, with voters split between “strong” (29%) and “somewhat” (23%) agreement. Findings are similar by demographic group. Teacher Permanent Status Voters were told that Indiana public school teachers are awarded permanent status, which provides them with a high level of job security after three years of teaching, and that this status is awarded regardless of how effective they are at increasing student academic growth (Q33). When asked if they would support or oppose changing the rules of rewarding permanent status so that it is based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of just time in the classroom, 85% of Hoosiers gave their support, with 61% who said they “strongly” support this. Rewarding Permanent Status In Part on Effectiveness 100% 80% 61% 60% 40% 24% 20% 6% 6% 3% 0% Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don't know support support oppose oppose Source: DHM Research; March 2011 It should also be noted that 72% of educator households are in support of changing the rules of rewarding permanent status in part on effectiveness. Voters were read a list of reasons to support changing teacher permanent status criteria to include teacher effectiveness and leadership and asked their level of agreement with each (Q34-Q37). 8 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 9. Permenant Status Should be Based on the Length of Time Spent in the Classroom Somewhat disagree 30% Strongly disagree 37% Somewhat agree 20% Don't Strongly know agree 3% 10% Source: DHM Research; March 2011 Only 30% of voters agreed that the length of time a teacher spends in the classroom is critical to their development and it makes sense to base awarding teaching permanent status solely on the length of time they have been teaching, with 20% who agree only “somewhat.” Just over one-third (37%) of educator households agree with this. Voters were much more likely to agree with reasons to include performance and effectiveness in teacher permanent status criteria. Reasons to Support Changing Teacher Permanent Status Criteria It is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with permanent status than other teachers. Because of this, it doesn't make sense to award this job status 50% 32% 8% 6% to teachers unless they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth Teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is only granted after 3 years of teaching if the teacher has a proven track record of 43% 38% 8% 8% effectiveness in the classroom and increasing student academic growth Permanent status based solely on time served in the classroom means that we have teachers in the system who are not effective but who we cannot 39% 25% 12% 20% replace or dismiss 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know Source: DHM Research; March 2011 Agreement is also much higher for reasons to base teacher permanent status in part on effectiveness. Eighty-three percent (83%) agree that it is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with permanent status 9 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 10. than other teachers and that because of this, it doesn’t make sense to award this job status to teachers unless they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth. Five in 10 (50%) agree “strongly.” Voters ages 18 to 34 (90%) and 35 to 54 (86%) have higher agreement levels than voters 55 and older (75%), as do Republicans (87%) and Independents (85%) compared to Democrats (77%). It should be noted that 74% of educator households agree with this. Eight in 10 (80%) of voters also agree that teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is only granted after three years of teaching if the teacher has a proven track record of effectiveness in the classroom and increasing student academic growth. Forty-three percent (43%) “strongly” agree with this. Findings are similar between subgroups with the exception of age, as 18 to 34 (91%) have higher agreement levels with this than voters 35 to 54 (81%) and 55 and older (75%). Sixty-four percent (64%) also agree that permanent status based solely on time served in the classroom means that we have teachers in the system who are not effective but who we cannot replace or dismiss, with 39% who agree “strongly.” Democrats (56%) and voters ages 55 and older (59%) are the only two groups whose agreement drops below 60%. 10 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 11. Appendix A Indiana Voter Statewide Survey – Senate Bill 1 March 2011; N=600; all registered voters 15 minutes +/-4.0 margin of error DHM Research Hi, my name is _____________ calling on behalf of DHM Research, a public opinion research firm. I’m calling about topics related to public education in the state of Indiana. May I please speak to (Name on list; if unavailable schedule callback) General Mood 1. All in all, are things in the state of Indiana headed in the right direction or are things pretty much off on the wrong track? Response Category N=600 Right direction 39% Wrong track 49% Don’t know 13% 2. What about public K-12 education in the state. Are things headed in the right direction or are things pretty much off on the wrong track? Response Category N=600 Right direction 32% Wrong track 56% Don’t know 12% 3. In general, is your impression of public school teachers in the state very favorable, somewhat favorable, not too favorable, or not at all favorable? Response Category N=600 Very favorable 36% Somewhat favorable 50% Not too favorable 8% Not at all favorable 2% Don’t know 4% 11 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 12. Teacher Evaluations – Baseline Attitudes 4. What do you consider to be the one most important factor to student success in Indiana’s public schools? (Open; accept 1 response) Response Category N=600 Parental involvement/dedication towards their child’s education 24% Having more quality/caring/dedicated/educated teachers 20% Having better class size/student to teacher ratio 7% Focusing on individual students needs/more personalized education 5% Adequate funding for educational resources 5% Having a good foundation/concentration on fundamentals/good curriculum 4% More consequences/higher discipline on students 3% Having a broad spectrum of subjects taught/not teaching to mandated tests 2% Changing educational methods/standards 2% Work ethic/more effort/students need to study more 2% Less administration and government focus/more focus on teachers and 2% what they are supposed to be doing Cooperation between teachers and parents 2% Teachers need resources to teach properly/updated resources 2% All other responses 1% or less Nothing/none 2% Don’t know 5% 5. Would you support or oppose changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on teachers’ ability to increase student academic growth and their level of leadership in the district? (Wait and ask) Is that strongly (support/oppose) or somewhat (support/oppose)? Response Category N=600 Strongly support 42% Somewhat support 26% Somewhat oppose 11% Strongly oppose 15% Don’t know 7% 12 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 13. 6. How often do you think the performance of Indiana public school teachers should be evaluated in a 10-year period? (Record number) Response Category N=600 1-3 20% 4-9 24% 10 - 11 48% 12 or more 4% Don’t know 5% 7. It is up to the individual school districts in the state to determine how often teachers are evaluated. In general, are you not at all concerned, not too concerned, somewhat concerned, or very concerned that Indiana does not have set requirements for teacher evaluations? Response Category N=600 Not at all concerned 6% Not too concerned 10% Somewhat concerned 41% Very concerned 42% Don’t know 2% 8. In some public school districts in the state, teachers are evaluated every three to five years, and in other districts, teachers who have received permanent status are never evaluated. Knowing this, are you not at all concerned, not too concerned, somewhat concerned, or very concerned that Indiana does not have set requirements for teacher evaluations? Response Category N=600 Not at all concerned 4% Not too concerned 4% Somewhat concerned 32% Very concerned 59% Don’t know 2% 9. In some public schools in Indiana, teachers are evaluated once every three years. Do you think this too often, not often enough, or just about right? Response Category N=600 Too often 2% Not often enough 52% Just about right 45% Don’t know 1% 13 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 14. I am going to read you a list of proposals to improve student success and teacher quality in Indiana’s public schools. Please tell me if you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose each (Randomize Q10-Q18) Strongly Smwt Smwt Strongly Don’t Response Category (N=600) Support Support Oppose Oppose know 10. Make sure that if budget cuts happen, teacher layoffs are based on teacher performance, including their ability to 57% 25% 8% 8% 3% increase student academic growth, instead of just seniority. 11. Include student performance data as a factor in teacher 38% 36% 11% 12% 3% evaluations. 12. Ensure that only teachers who are effective at improving student academic growth are able to receive and keep their 47% 29% 12% 9% 4% permanent status. 13. Ensure schools are not forced to keep low-performing 68% 21% 5% 4% 2% teachers and principals. 14. Require annual evaluations for teachers. 58% 25% 10% 6% 1% 15. Change the scale of teacher evaluations from “effective or ineffective” to “very effective, effective, needs 55% 34% 4% 2% 5% improvement, and ineffective.” 16. Reduce class sizes. 61% 24% 5% 4% 7% 17. Provide teachers and principals more flexibility to 74% 22% 2% 1% 2% improve student achievement in their schools. 18. Give schools the ability to hire teachers based on demonstrated teacher effectiveness as opposed to teacher 64% 24% 6% 4% 4% seniority or permanent status. Support for Senate Bill 1 19. The Indiana state legislature will be considering passing Senate Bill 1 in the 2011 legislative session. This bill focuses on reforms to how teachers are evaluated, compensated, and their placement. Before I just mentioned it, had you heard of Senate Bill 1? Response Category N=600 Yes 40% No 58% Don’t know 2% 14 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 15. I am going to read you a list of components of Senate Bill 1. Please tell me if you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose each of the following components. (Randomize Q20-Q26) Strongly Smwt Smwt Strongly Don’t Response Category (N=600) Support Support Oppose Oppose know 20. Change teacher evaluations to include student academic 52% 31% 8% 7% 3% growth as a factor, not just seniority. 21. Change teacher compensation decisions so that experience counts for one-third of performance criteria, and other criteria 42% 40% 9% 6% 4% include student academic growth and teacher leadership. 22. Provide higher pay to educators who teach in high priority subject areas like math and science that currently don’t have 43% 37% 11% 7% 3% enough effective teachers. 23. Provide higher pay to educators who work in low- performing or high poverty schools if they are able to increase 52% 35% 6% 5% 2% student academic performance. 24. Base teacher placement and dismissal on their ability to 37% 34% 13% 13% 3% increase student academic performance. 25. Money previously allocated toward teacher seniority and degrees earned would be redirected to reward teaches for their students’ success in the classroom, teacher leadership 38% 37% 11% 11% 4% assignments, and incentives to teach in high priority subject areas. 26. Individual schools would have more flexibility in hiring and 50% 38% 7% 3% 3% dismissal. Teacher Hiring & Dismissal I’d like to read you some statements about teacher seniority and protecting teachers. For each, please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree. (Randomize Q27-Q32) Strongly Smwt Smwt Strongly Don’t Response Category (n=600) Agree Agree Disagree Disagree know 27. Teachers with seniority need to be protected otherwise they will be forced out of jobs since less experienced teachers 22% 28% 25% 21% 5% are paid less. 28. Teachers with more than three years of seniority in Indiana public schools should have priority over newly hired teachers 24% 34% 21% 18% 4% and outside applicants. They’ve earned that. 29. Compared to other problems like school funding and classroom sizes, how teachers are hired and transferred is just 8% 23% 33% 30% 6% not as important. 30. Principals should be able to hire the teachers that will best meet the needs of their school’s students, and they should 76% 16% 4% 2% 1% never be forced to hire a teacher they don’t think is a good fit for their school. 31.Basing teacher lay-offs on seniority alone means that teachers who are more effective may be let go because they 29% 23% 18% 28% 4% haven’t been teaching as long as other, less effective teachers. 15 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 16. Strongly Smwt Smwt Strongly Don’t Response Category (n=600) Agree Agree Disagree Disagree know 32.Basing teacher lay-offs on effectiveness means that the best teachers will stay in the classroom, regardless of their seniority 55% 27% 9% 7% 2% or salary. Teacher Permanent Status Now I would like to ask you some questions about teacher permanent status. As I said earlier, Indiana K- 12 public school teachers are awarded permanent status, which provides them with a high level of job security, after three years of teaching. 33. Teacher permanent status in Indiana is currently awarded regardless of how effective teachers are at increasing student academic growth. Would you support or oppose changing the rules of rewarding permanent status so that it is based in part on teacher effectiveness instead of just time in the classroom? (Wait and ask) Is that somewhat (support/oppose) or strongly (support/oppose)? Response Category N=600 Strongly support 61% Somewhat support 24% Somewhat oppose 6% Strongly oppose 6% Don’t know 3% I am going to read you some statements about permanent status. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each. (Randomize Q34-Q37) Strongly Smwt Smwt Strongly Don’t Response Category (n=600) Agree Agree Disagree Disagree know 34. The length of time a teacher spends in the classroom is critical to their development and it makes sense to base 10% 20% 30% 37% 3% awarding teacher permanent status solely on the length of time they have been teaching. 35. Permanent status based solely on time served in the classroom means that we have teachers in the system who are 39% 25% 12% 20% 4% not effective but who we cannot replace or dismiss. 36. Teacher permanent status rules should be changed so that it is only granted after three years of teaching if the teacher has a 43% 38% 8% 8% 4% proven track record of effectiveness in the classroom and increasing student academic growth. 37. It is much more difficult to dismiss a teacher with permanent status than other teachers. Because of this, it doesn’t make sense 50% 32% 8% 6% 3% to award this job status to teachers unless they have a proven track record of effectively increasing student academic growth. 16 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 17. Support for Senate Bill 1 Concepts Validation 38. Let me read you two statements about staffing in public schools during difficult financial times. Please tell me which one statement comes closer to your point of view. (Rotate statements; accept one) Response Category N=600 A. When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their decisions about which teachers to let go based on their 12% seniority in the district. B. When faced with teacher layoffs, schools should make their decisions about which teachers to keep based on their 83% effectiveness in the classroom and ability to increase student growth. Don’t know 5% 39. Sometimes people change their mind after hearing more about an issue. Would you support or oppose changing teacher compensation and placement criteria so that only one-third is based on teacher seniority and the remaining is based on teachers’ ability to increase student academic growth and their level of leadership in the district? Response Category N=600 Strongly support 48% Somewhat support 28% Somewhat oppose 8% Strongly oppose 11% Don’t know 5% Demographics These last few questions are for statistical purposes only. 40. In what age category are you? (Read list) Response Category N=600 18-34 22% 35-54 39% 55-64 25% 65+ 13% Refused 1% 41. Gender (By observation) Response Category N=600 Male 48% Female 52% 17 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011
  • 18. 42. When it comes to politics and voting, do you consider yourself to be more of a Democrat, more of a Republican, more of an Independent, or member of another party? Response Category N=600 Democrat 28% Republican 33% Independent/Other party 36% Refused 4% 43. Vote propensity (From sample) Response Category N=600 0 of 4 18% 1 of 4 18% 2 of 4 17% 3 of 4 23% 4 of 4 25% 44. County (From Sample; Code into area of state) Response Category N=600 Northern Indiana 32% Indiana Metro area 26% Central Indiana 23% Southern Indiana 19% 45. Do you have children or grandchildren in the Indiana Public Schools? (specify children or grandchildren) Response Category N=600 Yes, children 27% Yes, grandchildren 24% No 49% Don’t know/Refused 0% 46. Are you or is anyone in your household a current or retired teacher? Response Category N=600 Yes, self, current 9% Yes, self, retired 4% Yes, household, current 8% Yes, household, retired 2% No 78% Don’t know/Refused 0% 47. Do your or anyone in your household belong to a labor union? Response Category N=600 Yes 22% No 77% Refused 1% 18 DHM Research | Stand for Children Indiana Statewide Voter Survey, March 2011