Credit: FERMIN LEAL/EDSOURCE TODAY

Credit: FERMIN LEAL/EDSOURCE TODAY

A national poll found that a majority of bipartisan voters would positively view a presidential candidate who supports improving federally funded early on education – a topic that has gained back up over the past three years.

The Offset Five Years Fund, a national group that advocates for federal investments in early childhood programs, released Tuesday its annual poll, finding the strongest support forearly teaching in the three years that the survey has been conducted.

Near 54 per centum of respondents said they would "concord a more than positive view" of a presidential candidate who supports improving early education. Six percent of respondents said they would accept a "less favorable" view, while 38 percent reported that it would make no departure in their opinions.

"Voters clearly want early childhood teaching in the national dialogue with the upcoming ballot," said Kris Perry, executive director of the First Five Years Fund, during a webinar about the poll. "The data is compelling from a political standpoint."

In the survey led past Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research, interviewers contacted 800 registered voters across the land on landlines and cellular phones in September to inquire questions for the survey.

When asked to rank the importance of problems from a listing of policy topics, 89 percent of respondents said making sure children get a "strong start in life" and improving public education was "extremely" or "very" important. Those 2 issues tied for commencement and ranked higher than increasing jobs and decision-making health care costs.

All the same, a related issue ranked 2nd from the bottom of the list, just in a higher place "securing our borders." About 68 percent ranked "ensuring in that location are better quality, more affordable early babyhood education options for parents who wish to apply them" as "extremely" or "very" important.

Like the previous 2 polls, participants were asked nearly a federal proposal to classify $10 billion per year for 10 years to states to expand preschool slots for depression- to moderate-income families, as well equally other efforts.

The idea was introduced by President Barack Obama in 2022 as function of his Country of the Union speech. But the plan, called the Strong Offset for America'southward Children Act, has languished in Congress. Congress members terminal fabricated progress on the proposal in May 2014, but lost momentum when key lawmakers left office. Even though the neb was reintroduced in May, it has been stalled.

Despite the lack of progress in Congress, 76 percentage of poll respondents said they back up the proposal – the highest percentage since the fund'south poll began. Last yr, 71 percent of respondents supported the plan, upward from 70 percent in 2013.

"We see a widening gap. We see more voters today siding with support of early on teaching," said Lori Weigel of Public Opinion Strategies.

Back up for the proposal was highest among Democrats, at 94 percent, but a majority of Republicans, 59 percent, also backed it.

Beyond the country, support for the plan was everyman in the West, with 71 percent of respondents backing it, compared to lxxx percent in the Southward, where support was strongest.

The survey looked at fundamental voter groups, finding strong support for early education amid Hispanics (86 pct); millennials, or voters age 34 and younger (87 per centum), and suburban women (76 percent). By income level, back up was highest among those making $40,000 a year or less – 89 percent.

When asked if it would be better to invest more in early education or higher, 42 percentage of respondents chose early on education. Xx-1 percent chose college and 33 percentage said investments should exist made equally.

"These poll results show the overwhelming bipartisan support for investments in quality early childhood instruction,"said Andrea Brawl, senior policy advisor for Early on Edge California, in a statement. "It'due south a top priority for American voters, who recognize that access to quality early education programs is a necessity."

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