State should provide equal funding for school districts, Elon University Poll finds
The latest Elon University Poll finds a large majority of
North Carolinians believe the state should provide money to
ensure equal funding of school districts, but less than half
believe the state should take control of schools based on
their performance.
The poll, conducted April 2-6 by the Elon University
Institute for Politics and Public Affairs, surveyed 677 North
Carolina residents. The poll has a margin of error of plus or
minus 3.8 percent.
Eighty-three percent of North Carolinians said the state
should provide funding to ensure that all school districts
spend about the same amount per student. Sixty-two percent
said the state should be involved in determining how local
school districts manage their affairs. But 46 percent said
the state should not take over schools based on their
performance, while 44 percent said the state should be
involved. A majority of respondents, 56 percent, said state
courts should not be involved in determining how local school
districts manage their affairs; 37 percent favored court
involvement.
“Clearly, citizens of North Carolina want the state
involved in local school districts, but not too
involved,” said Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon
University Poll. “They look to the state to address
funding inequities across districts, but are a bit more tepid
about the state taking over underperforming
schools.”
The poll also surveyed citizens about gas prices, with 83
percent saying recent prices have affected them or someone in
their household, compared with 79 percent in an October 2005
Elon University Poll. Citizens were split on whether Gov.
Mike Easley can do anything to reduce gas prices, with 45
percent saying the governor can do something, while 49
percent said the prices are beyond the governor’s
control. Fifty-one percent said the state legislature can
reduce the prices; 42 percent said the prices are beyond the
legislature’s control.
“Although split, it appears North Carolinians see the
legislature as the more appropriate body for addressing gas
prices,” Bacot said. “Citizens may be relating
increased gas prices to the state’s gas tax. It will be
interesting to see if the tax issue is dealt with in the
upcoming legislative session.”
The Elon University Poll has conducted several polls
annually since 2000. The non-partisan Elon University Poll
conducts frequent scientific telephone polls on issues of
importance citizens. The poll results are shared with media,
citizens and researchers to facilitate representative
democracy and public policy making through the better
understanding of the opinions and needs of citizens in the
state and region.