A statewide survey of 609 North Carolina voters done in April 2005 found a strong conviction among citizens that Smart Start and other pre-k programs should be available to all families and that too many children are beginning kindergarten without the skills they need. Poll result highlights include:
- Eighty-one percent of voters favored expanding North Carolina’s early-education programs to serve all young children. Even after voters were informed that this will require Smart Start’s funding to be increased from $190 million to $300 million, 71 percent still favor expansion.
- Fifty-nine percent of voters said they would be more likely to support their state legislator for reelection if he or she voted to provide early-education programs to all North Carolina children age five and under. This includes majorities of voters of all party affiliations and in all areas of the state.
- Two-thirds (67%) of voters agreed with the statement, “Expanding its early education program for all children age five and under is an important priority for North Carolina to address now, because getting young children ready to do their best in school will help improve the success of K-through-twelve education.”
The survey was conducted for Pre-K Now by the bipartisan polling team of Peter D. Hart Research and American Viewpoint.
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