Pennsylvanians want state cuts to education restored even if it means more money coming out of their own pockets, according to a recent poll by a national public opinion and political strategy research firm.

Public Citizens for Children and Youth, a non-profit education organization, and the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, released findings June 24 of a poll that suggests residents are very concerned about the future of education in the state – just as they are about the economy and jobs.

The groups commissioned Lake Research to conduct the poll, which was done on days between June 19rd and 23nd, according to Sharon Ward, director of the Policy Center.

As part of the poll 604 people throughout the state who would likely vote in the 2014 gubernatorial election were surveyed.

Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research, based in Washington D.C., said respondents indicated they wanted Gov. Corbett and the Legislature to take action in supporting public schools.

“People indicated that they love the public schools in their neighborhoods,” Lake said.

“Even if they didn’t have children who attended the schools.”

She said they favored increasing state sales tax and supported the delay of corporate tax cuts to bolster public schools.

“They wouldn’t mind sharing the burden if corporations did their share too,” Lake said.

She said the findings were very interesting concerning tax hikes.

“Pennsylvania is a very tax-sensitive state,” Lake said. “The results are very vivid.”
Corbett’s proposed education budget call for a basic education subsidy in the amount of $5.5 billion.

Still, opponents of the budget said that the governor has already cut $1 billion in funding since his first budget in 2011.

Here are highlights of the poll.

Eight out of 10 respondents, or 77 percent of those polled, said they were concerned about public education, with 48 percent being very concerned.

Lake said women voters in particular were worried about funding for public education, with 55 percent of women being very concerned about funding cuts.

During the survey, pollers made arguments for and against restoring state cuts in education.

The poll indicated that the number of respondents who argued for the restoration of budget cuts was 25 points higher than those who argued that the cuts are justified.

Donna Cooper, executive director of PCCY, said the findings indicate that Pennsylvanians don’t believe the governor is being honest about education funding.

“The poll shows that they are not buying into the argument that funding can’t be restored,” Cooper said.

Ward agreed.

“The Legislative leadership is out of sync with voters’ concerns,” she said.

Respondents primarily said they are concerned that further cuts to education funding would increase classroom sizes, prompt teacher furloughs and curtail extra-curricular and co-curricular programs.

The poll showed that 28 percent of voters are worried about education, while 27 percent also worried about the economy and job creation.

Respondents were less concerned about other state issues such as transportation and the environment, according to the poll.

Lake said Pennsylavania falls in line with other states that are starting to speak loudly against education cuts.

“The level of concern is very acute in Pennsylvania,” Lake said. “Nationwide people are rebelling against cuts to education.”

BCTV.org of Berks County – June 23, 2013 – Read article online