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Nearly two-thirds of registered Pennsylvania voters expressed satisfaction with the public schools in their communities, and more than 7 in 10 have positive impressions of teachers, according to a poll conducted by Terry Madonna Opinion Research for PSEA and other organizations.
Poll respondents were also more likely to support raising the state’s minimum teacher salary after hearing that Pennsylvania has licensed far fewer new teachers annually in recent years and that raising the minimum salary will allow public schools to recruit and retain the teachers Pennsylvania needs.
Poll findings
The poll found 65 percent of Pennsylvania voters were very or somewhat satisfied with the public schools in their communities, compared to only 28 percent who were very or somewhat dissatisfied.
Among respondents who currently have children in public schools, the response was even stronger, with 78 percent saying they were very or somewhat satisfied with the public schools in their communities, compared to only 20 percent who were very or somewhat dissatisfied.
These results reflect the most favorable view of Pennsylvania public schools since the spring of 2010, when an identically worded question was asked of voters.
The poll also found strong positive impressions of public-school teachers, with 71 percent of respondents saying they had a very or a somewhat positive impression of teachers, compared to only 13 percent with a very or somewhat negative impression.
Raising the minimum teacher salary
The poll also examined support for raising the minimum teacher salary in Pennsylvania. Policymakers are currently considering bipartisan legislation to raise the minimum teacher salary from $18,500 to $45,000 per year and fund it at the state level.
Voters were told that the number of new teaching licenses issued in Pennsylvania has dropped by 67 percent since 2009, and that increasing the minimum teacher salary “will allow Pennsylvania to recruit and retain the teachers our state needs.” Upon hearing this, 78 percent of voters polled were more likely to support a raise in the minimum teacher salary, with only 20 percent less likely to support the proposal.
“Pennsylvania has great public schools and great teachers,” PSEA President Rich Askey said. “Residents across the commonwealth are pleased with the schools in their communities and the educators who are preparing their sons and daughters for future success, and they want to see their schools stay on the right track.”
Terry Madonna Opinion Research surveyed 650 registered Pennsylvania voters March 15 to April 7, 2019. The margin of error is +/-5.1 percent.
