California Voter Attitudes on School Safety

Key Findings From a Statewide Voter Survey Conducted January 16-21, 2013
320-551

Research Methodology
1200 telephone interviews with registered voters in California
Interviews conducted between January 16 21, 2013 Interviews on both landlines and cell phones Interviews conducted in both English and Spanish

Margin of sampling error of +/- 2.8 percent Some percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding
1

Californians have paid close attention to the tragedy in Newtown.

How closely have you followed the news about the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School last month: would you say you have followed the news about this issue very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not at all?

Very closely Somewhat closely 41%

48%

Total Closely 88%

Not too closely

10% 2%
0% 15%

Not at all/never heard of it

Total Not Too/ Not At All Closely 12%

30% 45% 60% 75%

Q3.

But compared to other major issues, school safety is a relatively modest concern.
Please tell me how serious you think each of the following issues is in the State of California:
Most Important Issues Facing California
Ext. Ser. Very Ser. S.W. Ser. Not Ser.

The economy and unemployment

The cost of health care The quality of education in local schools Gangs and youth violence A lack of funding for public education The price of gasoline Violence in schools Illegal immigration The potential for shootings in schools Crime A lack of safety in schools
0%
1. Split Sample

41% 40% 37% 36% 34% 27% 31%

43% 39% 34% 38% 33%

Total Ext. Very Serious 14% 84% 16% 79% 71% 20% 5% 74% 22%
DK/NA

19% 13% 33% 8%

67% 58%

26%
22% 22% 21% 17%
20%

31%
31% 27% 42% 27%
40%

32%
28% 33% 33% 39%
60% 80%

8%
17% 16% 14%
100%

57% 53% 49% 63%

44%
3

In fact, concern about school safety has not changed significantly since last year.
*A

lack of safety in schools

Very Ser. S.W. Ser. Not Ser. DK/NA

Ext. Ser.

44%
2013
17% 27% 39% 14%

48%
2012*
0%

20%

28%

30%

15%

7%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1a. Please tell me how serious you think each of the following issues is in the State of California: extremely serious, very serious, somewhat serious, or not serious. Split Sample/*2012 Worded Slightly Differently.

More than three-quarters of voters view schools as safe, though few feel strongly.
In your opinion, how safe are California schools? Would you say they are very safe, somewhat safe, not too safe or not at all safe?
Very safe Somewhat safe 22% 55%

Total Safe 77%

Not too safe Not at all safe

4%

13%

Total Not Too/ Not At All Safe 18%

DK/NA
0%

5%
15% 30% 45% 60% 75%

Q2.

Nonetheless, a majority says it is very important for government leaders to improve safety in Californias schools.
How important is it to you that government leaders take action to improve safety in Californias schools: Extremely important Very important 33%

31%

Total Extremely/ Very Important 64%

Somewhat important Not too important 10%

24%

DK/NA
0%

2%
15% 30% 45% 60%

Q4.

Voters reserve their strongest support for planning, training, mental health services, and teaching conflict resolution.
I am going to read you a list of different policy options currently under discussion to improve safety and prevent violence in schools. Please tell me whether you support or oppose that particular policy.
Strng. Sup. S.W. Supp. S.W. Opp. Strng. Opp. DK/NA

Requiring every school to have a comprehensive safety plan Training school staff in emergency response *Increasing mental health services in communities *Teaching students conflict resolution techniques and anger management skills Providing mental health first aid training to teachers and school staff, so they recognize signs of mental illness in young people *Training teachers in conflict resolution techniques and classroom management skills
0%
Q5. *Split Sample

Total Total Support Oppose

79% 78%

17% 18%

96% 96% 91% 90% 91% 91%

100%

2% 2% 7% 8% 8% 8%
7

69%
67% 64% 64%
20% 40% 60%

22%
23% 27% 27%
80%

By more than two-to-one, voters believe having trained guidance counselors in every school would be more effective than having armed police officers there.
I am going to read you several pairs of statements about different potential approaches to improving school safety and preventing violence in your local school district. Please tell me which approach you believe would be more effective in preventing violence in schools and making schools safer.

Putting a trained guidance counselor in every school.

67%

OR
Putting an armed police officer in every school. 26%

Both/Neither/DK/NA
0%
Q7a.

8%
20% 40% 60% 80%

Voters rate improving mental health services as more effective than improving security systems.
I am going to read you several pairs of statements about different potential approaches to improving school safety and preventing violence in your local school district. Please tell me which approach you believe would be more effective in preventing violence in schools and making schools safer.

Improving mental health services in schools and communities.

66%

OR
Installing more security cameras and metal detectors in schools. 27%

Both/Neither/DK/NA
0%
Q7b.

7%
20% 40% 60% 80%

Voters see prevention of violence as more important than developing a response to it.
I am going to read you several pairs of statements about different potential approaches to improving school safety and preventing violence in your local school district. Please tell me which approach you believe would be more effective in preventing violence in schools and making schools safer.

We should prioritize strategies to prevent violent situations at school by increasing mental health services and better detecting the early signs of mental illness, so people who need it can get treatment or be taken off the streets

72%

OR
We should prioritize strategies to respond to violent situations at school by having armed police officers ready to confront attackers and hardened barriers that make it more difficult to get access to school grounds Both/Neither/DK/NA 20%

7%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q7c.

10

For more information, contact: Dave Metz

Dave@FM3research.com

Shakari Byerly
Shakari@FM3research.com

1999 Harrison St., Suite 1290 Oakland, CA 94612 Phone (510) 451-9521 Fax (510) 451-0384