Voters support leveraging state trust fund for education, want to fix lower performing schools through raising teacher pay and weighing family income in the community when funding education
Phoenix, Arizona – After several years of other issues taking the spotlight in the state of Arizona, a recent statewide survey commissioned by Stand for Children Arizona reveals a rapid increase in concern among Arizona’s voters regarding education. For the first time in over two years, education has surpassed immigration as the top issue in Arizona.
The statewide survey, conducted over four days in the beginning of June, focused on likely voters and was reflective of the predicted 2016 general election turnout based on political party, age, gender and geographic location.
Q. What do you consider to be the top issue facing the state of Arizona today?
36.2% Education
26.6% Immigration and Border Issues
14.2% Jobs and the Economy
6.8% State Budget
5.6% Healthcare
4.6% Other
2.0% Taxes
0.8% Transportation
3.2% Don’t Know, Refused
“We are facing a major challenge to educate the quality, competitive workforce we need to support Arizona’s long-term success,” said Craig Barrett, Stand for Children Advisory Board Chair. “It’s something that the education and business community have been concerned about for some time and it’s now finally reflected in the attitudes and concerns of Arizona voters.”
Over 69% of Arizona voters believe that K-12 Education in the state of Arizona is heading in the wrong direction. In fact, a majority of the Arizona electorate believes that education is definitely heading in the wrong direction.