California Voter Views of
the Shortage of
Teachers in K-12 Schools
and Policies Aimed at
Addressing the Problem
– A statewide survey conducted for –
EdSource and the Institute for Education Policy
– by –
The Field Poll
October 2015
About the Survey
Population surveyed: California registered voters.
Method of data collection: Live telephone interviews
conducted by The Field Poll in its
late September – early October
2015 statewide survey.
Sampling method:
Voters selected at random from
lists derived from the state’s
official voter rolls.
Languages of administration: English and Spanish.
Sample size:
1,002 registered voters
statewide.
Interviewing period: September 17 – October 4, 2015
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Graph 1
How serious is California’s shortage
of public school teachers?
% Very serious
Total
No
opinion
3
11% %
Not
serio
us
22%
Somewh
at
serious
64%
Party
registration
Democrats
73%
Republicans
48%
No party preference/other
Male
Gender
64%
Very
serious
Female
White non-Hispanic
Race/ethnicity
Latino
African American*
Asian/Pacific Islander
66%
60%
68%
57%
72%
82%
68%
* Small sample base.
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Graph 2
How important is it for the state to do more
to encourage young people and others to
enroll in teacher prep programs?
% Extremely important
Total
2% No
Not opinion
impo
rtant
26%
Somewh
at
importa
nt
Party
registration
Democrats
76%
Republicans
49%
No party preference/other
7%
65%
Male
Gender
65%
Extremel
y
importa
nt
Female
White non-Hispanic
Race/ethnicity
Latino
African American*
Asian/Pacific Islander
64%
59%
70%
57%
74%
80%
70%
* Small sample base.
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Graph 3
Voter reaction to two proposals aimed
at dealing with the state teacher
shortage
Oppos
e
Oppose stron
somew
8
gly
hat 5 %
%
27%
Favor
somewh
at
2% No
opinion
4% No
opinion
14%
Favor
strongl
Oppos
y
e
stron
30%
gly
Favor
26%
somewh
Oppose
at
somew
hat
26%
58%
Favor
strongly
Increase the number of
teachers by having the
state forgive a portion of
college loans or offering
scholarships*
Allow schools to hire
individuals who have not yet
completed their training or
earned a teaching
credential
the teacher teaches at least 4 years in a low-income community or in a subject where there is a shortage.
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Graph 4
How important is it for the state to do each of
the following to ensure that there are more
high-quality teachers in the K-12 schools?
Not important
Somewhat important
65%
Ensure all teachers receive
rigorous training and preparation
before they begin teaching
29%
5%
Require that teachers receive
ongoing professional development
after they receive their teaching
credentials
62%
30%
6%
59%
Ensure that new teachers receive
mentoring and support so they don't
leave teaching within a few years
31%
8%
Provide opportunities for prospective
teachers to receive a year of practice
teaching under the guidance of an
expert teacher
EdSource
51%
37%
11%
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Graph 5
How serious a problem is it that public
schools in low-income communities have
fewer fully qualified teachers than those in
% Very serious
wealthier areas?
Total
No
opinion
3
Not
%
serio
us
8%
23%
Somewh
at
serious
66%
Party
registration
Democrats
75%
Republicans
50%
No party preference/other
Male
Gender
66%
Very
serious
Female
White non-Hispanic
Race/ethnicity
Latino
African American*
Asian/Pacific Islander
69%
60%
72%
61%
73%
82%
67%
* Small sample base.
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Graph 6
Are the starting salaries of qualified K-12
teachers in your own local community too
high, too low or about right?
% Too low
Total
58%
Party
registration
Democrats
Republicans
21%
Don’t
know
18%
About
right
66%
44%
No party preference/other
Male
Gender
58%
Too low
Female
White non-Hispanic
Race/ethnicity
Latino
African American*
Asian/Pacific Islander
61%
52%
64%
53%
62%
73%
63%
* Small sample base.
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Graph 7
How important is it for school districts to offer
entry-level teachers starting salaries that are
comparable to what is being offered to other
% Extremely important
new college graduates?
Total
Not
impo
rtant
8%
37%
Somewh
at
importa
nt
4% No
opinion
51%
Party
registration
Democrats
63%
Republicans
36%
No party preference/other
51%
Extremel
y
importa
nt
Male
Gender
Female
White non-Hispanic
Race/ethnicity
49%
45%
57%
47%
Latino
54%
African American*
57%
Asian/Pacific Islander
59%
* Small sample base.
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Graph 8
How important is it for the state’s
teaching force to be racially, ethnically
and linguistically diverse?
% Extremely important
Total
2% No
opinion
21%
Not
import
ant
31%
Somewh
at
importa
nt
46%
Party
registration
Democrats
60%
Republicans
30%
No party preference/other
42%
Male
Gender
39%
46%
Extremel
y
importa
nt
Female
White non-Hispanic
Race/ethnicity
Latino
53%
35%
63%
African American*
Asian/Pacific Islander
73%
45%
* Small sample base.
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Graph 9
Would you vote Yes or No on the Nov. 2016
statewide ballot prop. that would require schools
to offer students not proficient in English
% Yes their
academic instruction in both English and
native language?**
Total
61%
Undecided
Party
registration
Democrats
7
%
Republicans
No party preference/other
32%
No
Male
Gender
61%
Yes
Female
White non-Hispanic
Race/ethnicity
71%
42%
65%
57%
65%
50%
Latino
77%
African American*
76%
Asian/Pacific Islander
71%
Small sample base.
And require more opportunities for English-speakers to master other non-English languages.
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Graph 10
How likely would you be to encourage a
friend or family member to become a K12 teacher in California today? % Likely
Total
11%
Not at
all
likely
17%
Not too
likely
2% No
opinion
Somewhat
Total 34%36%70%
Age18-2924%
39% 63%
30-3926%
37%63%
34%
Very
likely
40-49 34%38% 72%
50-64 39%35% 74%
65 or older 43%32%75%
Gender
Male 32%
35%67%
36%
Somewh
at likely
Female 36%37% 73%
White non-Hispanic 31%
34%65%
Race/ethnicity
44%34%78%
African American*
51%28%79%
Asian/Pacific Islander21%48% 69%
* Small sample base.
EdSource
Latino
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