Survey Results

Page: April 2012 Survey Questions for Louisiana Public Square

1. Overall, how well do you think Louisiana's public schools prepare students for college? Would you say they do an excellent job, good job, fair job or poor job?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Excellent		2.6%	1
Good		36.8%	14
Fair		34.2%	13
Poor		21.1%	8
Don’t Know/Not Sure		5.3%	2

2. How well do you think Louisiana's public schools prepare students for the workforce? Would you say they do an excellent job, good job, fair job or poor job?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Excellent		2.6%	1
Good		23.7%	9
Fair		42.1%	16
Poor		23.7%	9
Don’t Know/Not Sure		7.9%	3

3. Which of the following three statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of Louisiana’s system for primary and secondary public education?
	answered question		36
	skipped question		2
		Response Percent	Response Count
On the whole, public education in Louisiana works pretty well and only minor changes are necessary to make it work better.		30.6%	11
There are some good things in public education in Louisiana, but fundamental changes are needed.		52.8%	19
Our system of public education in Louisiana has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it.		16.7%	6

4. A charter school is a public school that functions independently of local school district control. Would you favor or oppose opening more charter public schools, as long as they maintain certain standards set by the state government?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Strongly favor		13.2%	5
Favor		10.5%	4
Oppose		28.9%	11
Strongly oppose		42.1%	16
Don’t Know/Not Sure		5.3%	2

5. When it comes to teacher pay at public schools grades K-12, do you think teachers should be paid based on how well their students do on a variety of different measures, or do you think all teachers should be paid equally and get pay increases based solely on seniority?
	answered question		36
	skipped question		2
		Response Percent	Response Count
Pay based on how well their students perform		50.0%	18
Pay based on seniority		50.0%	18

6. Most public school teachers have tenure, that is, after a two- or three-year trial period, school administrators must ensure a policy that a teacher be given a formal legal review before they can be terminated. Do you approve or disapprove of this policy?
	answered question		37
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Approve		67.6%	25
Disapprove		32.4%	12

7. Do you favor or oppose providing parents with children in failing public schools with tax money in the form of school vouchers to help pay for their children to attend private or religious schools?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Strongly favor		5.3%	2
Favor		13.2%	5
Oppose		0.0%	0
Strongly oppose		81.6%	31
Don’t Know/Not Sure		0.0%	0

8. If you had a child getting ready to attend school in Louisiana – would you want to send them to a public school, a private school, or a charter school?
	answered question		37
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Public School		54.1%	20
Private School		37.8%	14
Charter School		8.1%	3

9. For the next eight questions please answer as if you had a child getting ready to attend school in Louisiana – please rate the following five factors on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being not at all important and 5 being very important) with how important each factor would be in deciding where to send your child to school:
	answered question						38
	skipped question						0
	Not at all Important				Very Important	Rating Average	Rating Count
Safety	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)	5.3% (2)	10.5% (4)	84.2% (32)	4.79	38
Grade in the Louisiana rating system	5.3% (2)	2.6% (1)	26.3% (10)	26.3% (10)	39.5% (15)	3.92	38
Proximity to your home	5.3% (2)	7.9% (3)	15.8% (6)	36.8% (14)	34.2% (13)	3.87	38
Number of certified teachers	0.0% (0)	5.3% (2)	10.5% (4)	26.3% (10)	57.9% (22)	4.37	38
Cost	2.7% (1)	8.1% (3)	24.3% (9)	37.8% (14)	27.0% (10)	3.78	37
Quality of the student body	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)	10.5% (4)	26.3% (10)	63.2% (24)	4.53	38
Reputation (word of mouth)	2.6% (1)	7.9% (3)	15.8% (6)	31.6% (12)	42.1% (16)	4.03	38
Access to special programs (talented gifted, college prep)	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)	28.9% (11)	71.1% (27)	4.71	38

10. Which is the main way that you think teachers should be evaluated?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
By the grades of their pupils on standardized test		5.3%	2
By the overall grades of their pupils		7.9%	3
By evaluations of other faculty at the school		15.8%	6
By evaluations of other administrations at the school		44.7%	17
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]		26.3%	10

11. In your opinion is there a direct connection between how much money is spent on public schools in Louisiana to how well the students in those schools perform?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes – spend more money and the children perform better		60.5%	23
Yes – spend more money and the children perform worse		0.0%	0
No – spending more money will not affect the student’s performance		39.5%	15

12. As you may know there are currently education reforms being passed in the state of Louisiana. In your opinion will Louisiana students perform better or worse after these education reforms are fully in effect?
	answered question		37
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Better		13.5%	5
Worse		54.1%	20
No change		32.4%	12

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13. What is your political party affiliation?
	answered question		35
	skipped question		3
		Response Percent	Response Count
Republican Party		20.0%	7
Democratic Party		42.9%	15
Independent		25.7%	9
Don't know / Not available		5.7%	2
Refused		5.7%	2
Other (please specify) [ShowReplies]			2

14. The terms "liberal" and "conservative" may mean different things to people, depending on the kind of issue one is considering. In terms of ECONOMIC issues, would you say you are:
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Very liberal		2.6%	1
Liberal		7.9%	3
Somewhat liberal		13.2%	5
Moderate		34.2%	13
Somewhat conservative		18.4%	7
Conservative		10.5%	4
Very conservative		2.6%	1
Don't know / Not available		7.9%	3
Refused		2.6%	1

15. Now, thinking in terms of social issues and people's behavior, would you say you are:
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Very liberal		5.3%	2
Liberal		18.4%	7
Somewhat liberal		18.4%	7
Moderate		23.7%	9
Somewhat conservative		10.5%	4
Conservative		5.3%	2
Very conservative		10.5%	4
Don't know / Not available		5.3%	2
Refused		2.6%	1

16. What race or ethnicity do you consider yourself?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
White		84.2%	32
Black		5.3%	2
Asian		0.0%	0
Hispanic		2.6%	1
Native American		0.0%	0
Mixed race		0.0%	0
Other		0.0%	0
Don't know / Not available		0.0%	0
Refused		7.9%	3

17. What is the highest level of education you have received?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Grade school		0.0%	0
High school diploma/GED		15.8%	6
Vocational/Technical Degree		5.3%	2
Associates Degree		5.3%	2
Bachelors Degree		36.8%	14
Masters Degree		23.7%	9
PhD/MD/JD		13.2%	5
Other		0.0%	0
Don't know / Not available		0.0%	0
Refused		0.0%	0

18. What was your age on your last birthday?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
17 or Younger		0.0%	0
18-24		0.0%	0
25-34		18.4%	7
35-44		18.4%	7
45-54		44.7%	17
55-64		13.2%	5
65-74		5.3%	2
75-84		0.0%	0
85 or older		0.0%	0
Don't know / Not available		0.0%	0
Refused		0.0%	0

19. What is your marital status?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Single		15.8%	6
Married		71.1%	27
Divorced/Separated		13.2%	5
Widowed		0.0%	0
Other		0.0%	0
Don't know / Not available		0.0%	0
Refused		0.0%	0

20. What is your total 2010 household income before taxes? Please keep in mind this information is only for statistical purposes and will remain strictly confidential.
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
$10,000 OR LESS		5.3%	2
$10,001-$20,000		0.0%	0
$20,001-$30,000		5.3%	2
$30,001-$40,000		2.6%	1
$40,001-$50,000		10.5%	4
$50,001-$60,000		10.5%	4
$60,001-$70,000		7.9%	3
$70,001-$80,000		5.3%	2
$80,001-$100,000		13.2%	5
$100,001 OR MORE		23.7%	9
Don't know / Not available		0.0%	0
Refused		15.8%	6

21. Gender?
	answered question		38
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Male		23.7%	9
Female		76.3%	29
Don't know / Not available		0.0%	0
Refused		0.0%	0