Nationwide/July 2001 Page 19
Mott -- Nationwide
FINAL
NATIONWIDE
800 registered voters
July 2001
*FINDINGS PRIOR TO THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS
1. First, are you registered to vote at this address? [IF NO, ASK FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS. IF NONE, TERMINATE AND MARK TQ1 ON SAMPLE SHEET]
Gender of respondent
male 48
female 52
2. [T-7/99] Thinking specifically about the area of education, I am going to read you a list of things other people have given to improve the performance of students. Of the following, tell me which ONE you think would most improve the performance of students:
READ AND ROTATE
__Tougher academic standards for students 13
__Expanding quality afterschool programs 9
__Modernizing old school buildings and classrooms 5
__Establishing national standards for teachers 10
__Building new schools 1
__Getting parents involved in the schools 25
__Teaching children the basics like reading and math 15
__Making the schools safe 5
__Reducing class size 16
(all of the above, but if you had to choose one) 1
(none of the above, but if you had to choose one) 0
(don’t know) 1
IF CHOICE GIVEN IN Q.2
3. [T-7/99] And which would be your second choice?
READ AND ROTATE; OMIT CHOICE FROM Q.2
__Tougher academic standards for students 8
__Expanding quality afterschool programs 9
__Modernizing old school buildings and classrooms 4
__Establishing national standards for teachers 13
__Building new schools 3
__Getting parents involved in the schools 21
__Teaching children the basics like reading and math 16
__Making the schools safe 7
__Reducing class size 18
(all of the above, but if you had to choose one) 1
(none of the above, but if you had to choose one) 0
(don’t know) 1
RESUME ASKING ALL
Now I am going to read you a list of several kinds of programs aimed at preventing youth violence and I want you to tell me on a scale which goes from 0 to 10, where 0 means not at all effective and 10 means extremely effective, how effective you think each one is in reducing youth violence.
[READ ITEM.] On a scale which goes from 0 to 10, where 0 means not at all effective and 10 means extremely effective, how effective do you think that would be in reducing youth violence?
ROTATE Q4 TO Q11
Mean 10 8-9 6-7 5 0-4 Don’t
know
__Job and vocational training 7.5 24 33 23 11 8 1
__Gang outreach and prevention programs
7.5 28 28 20 11 10 3
__Reduce access to guns. On a scale which goes from 0 to 10, where
0 means not at all effective and 10 means extremely effective, how effective
do you think reducing access to guns would be in reducing youth
violence? 7.7 44 21 10 7 16 2
__Violence prevention programs taught in the classroom
7.6 30 30 19 10 10 1
__Counseling for families 7.7 29 32 22 8 8 2
__Mentoring programs. On a scale which goes from 0 to 10, where
0 means not at all effective and 10 means extremely effective, how effective
do you think mentoring programs would be in reducing youth violence?
8.0 30 36 20 7 5 2
__Expanding access to afterschool programs
8.0 35 31 19 7 6 1
__Daytime curfews 5.3 15 16 14 13 37 6
[END ASKING ALL, SPLIT SAMPLE A GO TO Q12,
SPIT SAMPLE B GO TO Q14]
SPLIT SAMPLE A
4. Thinking about the different areas that compete for school funding, if you could only choose ONE, in which ONE of the following areas do you think it is most important to increase funding? *
READ AND ROTATE
Building new schools 4
Modernizing old school buildings 7
Reducing class size 33
Training for teachers 23
Expanding quality afterschool programs 8
Expanding headstart and preschool programs 7
Putting computers and technology in the classroom 15
(all of the above, but if you had to choose) 1
(none of the above, but if you had to choose) 0
(don’t know) 1
IF CHOICE GIVEN IN Q.12
5. And which would be your second choice? *
READ AND ROTATE; OMIT CHOICE FROM Q.12
Building new schools 5
Modernizing old school buildings 11
Reducing class size 18
Training for teachers 22
Expanding quality afterschool programs 16
Expanding headstart and preschool programs 11
Putting computers and technology in the classroom 13
(all of the above, but if you had to choose) 0
(none of the above, but if you had to choose) 0
(don’t know) 2
[END ASKING SPLIT SAMPLE A, GO TO Q15]
SPLIT SAMPLE B
6. Thinking about all of the issues competing for federal funds, what priority for receiving federal funds do you place on expanding quality afterschool programs – top priority, high priority, somewhat of a priority, not much of a priority, or no priority at all? *
Top priority 21 63
High priority 42
Somewhat of a priority 27
Not much of a priority 6
No priority at all 3 35
(don’t know) 1
[END ASKING SPLIT SAMPLE B, GO TO Q15]
RESUME ASKING ALL
7. [T] Do you agree or disagree there should be some type of organized activity or place for children and teens to go after school every day that provides opportunities for them to learn? (If agree/disagree, Ask: is that strongly/not so strongly?)
Strongly agree 73 94
Not so strongly agree 21
Not so strongly disagree 4
Strongly disagree 2 6
(don’t know) 0
[END ASKING ALL, SPLIT SAMPLE A GO TO Q16,
SPIT SAMPLE B GO TO Q17]
SPLIT SAMPLE A
8. [T] Still thinking about afterschool programs, would you say that afterschool programs are a necessity for your community? (If yes/no, Ask: is that strongly/not so strongly?)
Yes, strongly 50 80
Yes, not so strongly 30
No, not so strongly 12
No, strongly 5 17
(don’t know) 3
[END ASKING SPLIT SAMPLE A, GO TO Q18]
SPLIT SAMPLE B
9. Still thinking about afterschool programs, would you say that afterschool programs are an absolute necessity for your community? (If yes/no, Ask: is that strongly/not so strongly?)
Yes, strongly 49 75
Yes, not so strongly 26
No, not so strongly 15
No, strongly 6 22
(don’t know) 4
[END ASKING SPLIT SAMPLE B, GO TO Q18]
RESUME ASKING ALL
10. [T] Do you think there are more than enough, enough, or not enough afterschool programs available for children in America today?
More than enough 4
Enough 15
Not enough 67
(don’t know) 13
[T] How important is it to you personally to ensure access to afterschool programs for all children? Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important all?
Very important 51 86
Somewhat important 35
Not too important 8
Not important at all 4 13
(don’t know) 1
11. Thinking about afterschool programs, what would you say is the MOST important thing afterschool programs provide for children today?
Keep kids safe/ a safe place for kids to go 12
Keep kids out of trouble and off of the streets 11
Prevent violence 1
Give kids a way to express themselves 2
Homework help/tutoring 4
Instill kids with morals/values 3
Learn social skills 2
Help working parents 0
Keep kids busy/occupy kids’ time constructively 9
A place to go after school 5
A structured environment/planned activities 5
Athletics/provide sports programs 2
Educational/academic learning 13
Adult supervision 9
Interaction with peers outside of the classroom/
spend time with other kids 5
Provide discipline 1
Low-cost or free baby-sitting/daycare services 2
Encourage creativity/learn fun things 1
Bolster kids’ self-esteem 2
Recreational activities/place for kids to have fun 1
Mentoring/provide role models 2
Help with basic skills 1
Other 2
Don’t Know 7
[T] Of the following, which group should play the largest role in ensuring afterschool programs for children?
[READ AND ROTATE]
Federal government 18
State government 16
Local government 15
Parents 23
Public schools 9
Private sector 2
Faith-based organizations 4
Community organizations 11
(all of the above, ASK: But if you had to choose one?) 1
(none of the above, ASK: But if you had to choose one?) 0
(other) 0
(don’t know) 2
IF CHOICE GIVEN IN Q21
12. [T] And which group should play the next largest role in ensuring afterschool programs for children?
[READ AND ROTATE, DELETE ITEM MENTIONED IN Q21]
Federal government 6
State government 20
Local government 20
Parents 16
Public schools 12
Private sector 6
Faith-based organizations 4
Community organizations 14
(all of the above, ASK: But if you had to choose one?) 0
(none of the above, ASK: But if you had to choose one?) 0
(other) 0
(don’t know) 1
[SPLIT SAMPLE A, GO TO Q23; SPLIT SAMPLE B, GO TO Q24]
SPLIT SAMPLE A
13. [T] How difficult do you think it is for most parents to find afterschool programs in the nation – very difficult, somewhat difficult, not too difficult, or not difficult at all?
Very difficult 23 69
Somewhat difficult 46
Not too difficult 15
Not difficult at all 4 20
(don’t know) 11
[END SPLIT SAMPLE A, GO TO Q25]
SPLIT SAMPLE B
14. [T] How difficult do you think it is for most parents to find afterschool programs in your community – very difficult, somewhat difficult, not too difficult, or not difficult at all?
Very difficult 17 63
Somewhat difficult 45
Not too difficult 18
Not difficult at all 7 25
(don’t know) 12
[END SPLIT SAMPLE B, GO TO Q25]
RESUME ASKING ALL:
15. How would you rate the job your state is doing on expanding afterschool programs – extremely well, very well, somewhat well, not too well, or not well at all?
Extremely well 3 13 Very well 10 Somewhat well 34
Not too well 20
Not well at all 6 61
(don’t know) 27
16. How important is it to you for your state to expand its afterschool programs – extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?
Extremely important 23 67
Very important 44
Somewhat important 21
Not too important 5
Not important at all 4 30
(don’t know) 3
17. [T – 7/99] Which of the following would you say is the biggest problem facing parents in your community when it comes to afterschool programs?
READ AND ROTATE
Finding the program 14
Parents do not seek out afterschool programs because
they do not know the benefits of these programs 14
Finding affordable programs 22
Finding programs which are close-by and accessible 14
Finding quality programs 9
Finding programs that are offered every day 5
Finding safe programs 3
Finding programs that have a variety of educational
activities 8
(all of the above, but if you had to choose one) 3
(none of the above, but if you had to choose one) 0
(don’t know) 8
18. [T] Does your community currently provide afterschool programs everyday during the hours after school or does it not provide daily afterschool programs?
Provides daily afterschool programs 38
Does not provide daily afterschool programs 23
(provides some programs, but not enough) 11
(don’t know/refused) 28
[T] Where would you most want to see daily afterschool programs take place?
[READ AND ROTATE]
__At public schools 57
__At community organizations, like boys’ and girls’
clubs or the YMCA and YWCA 16
__At churches or temples 6
__At libraries 3
__At cultural institutions, like museums 1
__At other public facilities, like parks and recreation departments 9
__ (all of the above, ASK: But if you had to choose one?) 6
__ (none of the above, ASK: But if you had to choose one?) 0
__ (other) 1
__ (don’t know) 1
Now thinking about afterschool programs, of the following which ONE do you MOST associate with afterschool programs :
READ AND ROTATE
Safety 19
Responsibility 9
Academic achievement 10
Creative outlet 22
Adult supervision 23
Athletic activities 10
(all of the above, but if you had to choose?) 5
(none of the above, but if you had to choose?) 0
(don't know) 1
Of the following which ONE do you see as the biggest barrier to expanding afterschool programs:
[READ AND ROTATE]
Lack of facilities 5
Lack of instructors 11
Lack of funds 47
Lack of parental responsibility 15
Resistance from students to participate 7
Lack of quality programs 9
(all of the above, but if you had to choose?) 3
(none of the above, but if you had to choose?) 0
(don't know) 4
Have you seen, heard or read anything recently about afterschool programs?
Yes, saw [GO TO Q33] 5 12
Yes, heard [GO TO Q33] 2
Yes, read [GO TO Q33] 4
Yes, all [GO TO Q33] 2
No [GO TO Q35] 87
(don’t know) [GO TO Q35] 1
IF Q.32 = 1, 2, 3, OR 4, ASK:
What was it you saw, heard, or read?
Programs help children help their community 2
Sponsored by police departments 1
Lack of funding 10
More people are interested in afterschool programs 2
Advertising for specific programs 11
Athletics programs after school 4
Parents do not know the benefits of programs 5
There are too few afterschool programs available 5
Need for afterschool programs 9
Elected officials talking about afterschool programs 3
News articles about local programs 10
Heard about different programs/activities offered 17
General positives about afterschool programs 4
Other 7
IF Q.32 = 1, 2, 3, OR 4, ASK:
Now let me read you a list of places you may have seen, heard, or read something on afterschool programs, and please tell me where you remember seeing something on afterschool programs.
READ AND ROTATE – MARK ALL THAT APPLY
On a television program 21
On a television commercial 11
On a radio program 7
On a radio commercial 3
In a magazine 6
In a newspaper 36
On the Internet or Web 3
On a billboard or outdoor poster 2
(Other ______) 13
(all of the above) 1
(none of the above) 0
(don’t know) 2
RESUME ASKING ALL
19. [T] Now let me read you a description of a program some people have recommended implementing. This comprehensive afterschool program would use public school buildings during after school hours five days a week to provide children with fun, enriching learning opportunities that extend beyond school’s traditional academic style, that challenge them, and that give them more individualized attention.