Survey Finds Public Support for Increased Education Funding

Public Views increased education funding as key to several national issues Majority of Americans Believe Education Funding Tied to Economic Growth

An overwhelming majority (77%) of American adults believe a substantial increase in federal funding for education would have a positive impact on innovation and growth in the U.S. economy, according to a survey released Wednesday (September 3, 2003) by the Committee for Education Funding (CEF).

An almost equally strong majority (75%) of those polled also believe federal funding increases for education would have a positive impact on American companies' ability to compete in the global markets.

Results were even stronger when dealing with education-related issues, such as the positive impact increased federal funding would have on expanding access to higher education (82%), providing students with opportunities afforded other generations (82%), and helping states avoid cuts to education aid (79%).

Highlights of poll:

• 4 out of 5 respondents believe a substantial increase in federal spending on education would have a positive impact on providing students with the same or better opportunities than generations past, and in expanding access to colleges and other forms of higher education.
• 4 out of 5 respondents believe a substantial increase in federal spending on education would help students meet tougher test requirements, help states avoid cuts in education, and allow local officials to address specific education issues in their community.
• 3 out of 4 respondents believe a substantial increase in federal spending on education would aid in innovation and growth in the U.S. economy, and allow American companies to compete in the global market.
• 2 out of 3 respondents believe a substantial increase in federal spending on education would positively impact the U.S. military and the ability to fight the threat of terrorism.

  # # #

  1. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on...?  

  	Base: All respondents	Big positive impact	Some impact	No real effect	(DK/NS)
  Innovation in and growth in the U.S. economy	527	41%	36%	21%	2%
  The ability of American companies to compete in the world	527	38%	37%	24%	1%
  The quality of the U.S. military and American preparedness to fight terrorism	527	35%	33%	30%	2%
  Providing students with the same or better opportunities than previous generations	527	49%	33%	17%	1%
  Expanding access to colleges and other forms of higher education	527	48%	34%	17%	1%
  The ability of local officials to address specific education issues in their community	527	39%	40%	20%	1%
  Helping students meet tougher test requirements	527	39%	40%	20%	1%
  Helping states avoid cuts to education aid	527	42%	37%	18%	3%

  1_1. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on innovation in and growth in the U.S. economy???

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  Innovation in and growth in the U.S. economy
  Big positive impact	41%
  Some impact	36%
  No real effect	21%
  (DK/NS)	2%
  ?

  1_2. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on the ability of American companies to compete in the world???

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  The ability of American companies to compete in the world
  Big positive impact	38%
  Some impact	37%
  No real effect	24%
  (DK/NS)	1%
  ?

  1_3. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on the quality of the U.S. military and American preparedness to fight terrorism???

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  The quality of the U.S. military and American preparedness to fight terrorism
  Big positive impact	35%
  Some impact	33%
  No real effect	30%
  (DK/NS)	2%
  ?

  1_4. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on providing students with the same or better opportunities than previous generations???

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  Providing students with the same or better opportunities than previous generations
  Big positive impact	49%
  Some impact	33%
  No real effect	17%
  (DK/NS)	1%
  ?

  1_5. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on expanding access to colleges and other forms of higher education???  

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  Expanding access to colleges and other forms of higher education
  Big positive impact	48%
  Some impact	34%
  No real effect	17%
  (DK/NS)	1%
  ?

  1_6. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on the ability of local officials to address specific education issues in their community???

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  The ability of local officials to address specific education issues in their community
  Big positive impact	39%
  Some impact	40%
  No real effect	20%
  (DK/NS)	1%
  ?

  1_7. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on helping students meet tougher test requirements???

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  Helping students meet tougher test requirements
  Big positive impact	39%
  Some impact	40%
  No real effect	20%
  (DK/NS)	1%
  ?

  1_8. Would a substantial increase in federal spending on education have a big positive impact, some impact or no real effect on helping states avoid cuts to education aid???

  	Total
  Base: All respondents	527
  Weighted	527
  Helping states avoid cuts to education aid
  Big positive impact	42%
  Some impact	37%
  No real effect	18%
  (DK/NS)	3%
  ?

On August 28, 2003, Ipsos-Reid U.S. Public Affairs interviewed a representative sample of 527 adults nationwide by telephone for the Committee for Education Funding. The margin of error is +/- 4.3%.

CEF Web site

Posted September 4, 2003