Duval County Public Schools

What citizens and parents think about

school quality, school leadership
and school funding.
Dr. Raymond K.Oldakowski
Department of Social Science
Jacksonville University
About the Survey
1,100 adult residents of Duval County, Florida.

February 2 through February 8, 2011.

Patterned to compare resident views with those from a similar survey taken in February
2006.

Includes a statistically valid subset of parents with students in Duval County Public Schools.

The margin for error +/- 3 percentage points.

The Challenge Facing Duval County
 Residents of Jacksonville think education is the most critical issue facing the
community -- more important than it was five years ago when a similar poll was
conducted.
 The existing school system receives low ratings from residents, particularly
parents of Duval County public school students.
 The majority of residents, parents, non-parents, blacks, whites and virtually every
subgroup, believes it will take increased funding to improve the school
system.
 But half of the respondents feel their taxes are too high already and half of those
expressing an opinion are opposed to paying any additional taxes.
The Importance
Of Quality Education
Which one of the following do you feel is most important
to Jacksonville’s future?
2006 2011
Education – 35% Education – 41%
Crime – 31% Jobs – 29%
Jobs – 13% Crime – 20%
Transportation – 10% Transportation – 5%
Growth – 2% Growth – 4%
How Are We Doing?
How do you rate the overall performance of Duval County
public schools? (All Respondents)
45%
40% 41%
40% Percent saying
35%
30%
Excellent or Good:
29%
30%
25%
19%
22% 2006 – 34%
20%
2011 – 31%
15%
10% 7% 6%
5%
5%
1%
0%
Excellent Good Fair Poor Undecided

2006 2011
How Are We Doing?
How do you rate the overall performance of Duval County
public schools? (Parents Only)
50%
45%
44% 42% Percent saying
40% 37% Excellent or Good:
35%
30% 28%
25% 2006 – 41%
25%
20%
2011 – 29%
15% 12%
10%
4% 3%
5% 1% 3%
0%
Excellent Good Fair Poor Undecided

2006 2011
How Are We Doing?
In the past five years, has the overall performance of Duval
County public schools:
45%
39%
40%
35%
35%
28% 29%
30% 27%
25%
25%

20%

15%
9% 8%
10%

5%

0%
Improved Remained the same Declined Not Sure

All Respondents Parents Only

How Are We Doing?
In the past five years, have the following gotten better or worse: (Parents only)
100%
90% 22% 21% 19%
80% 35%
45% 44%
70%
60%
50%
40%
67%
30% 56%
55%
20% 39% 42%
33%
10%
0%
Emphasis on Leadership from Teacher quality School Board School district Classroom discipline
academics school principals leadership leadership

Worse Same Better

Parental Engagement
In the past six months have you:
(Percent of parents responding 'Yes')
120%

100%
100% 96% 96%

80% 73% 75% 75% 74%

62% 63%
56% 58%
60% All
46%
White parents
40%
Black parents
20%

0%
Attended a PTA meeting Volunteered at a child's Met with a teacher Been involved in other
school activities
Parental Engagement
What is most important to providing quality education? (All Parents)

Quality of teachers 40%

Parental involvement 37%

Smaller class sizes 12%

Adequate funding 10%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

The Challenge of Funding
In order for Duval County schools to become a top-rated system, do you
believe that increased funding is necessary? (Percent responding 'Yes')

All respondents 61%

Parents 70%
Non-Parents 58%
Men 57%
Women 65%
Whites 53%
Blacks 79%
Democrats 77%
Republicans 43%
Independents 59%
Non-Voters 56%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

The Challenge of Funding
Given the overall quality of education provided in Duval County
Public Schools, are your local taxes:
70%

60%
58% In 2006, 40% of
50% respondents felt
50%
their taxes were
40% 35% 34% too high.
30%

20%
9%
10%
4% 6% 4%
0%
Too high About right Too low Unsure

All Respondents Parents Only

The Challenge of Funding
Would you support the following strategies to address budget shortfalls in Duval
County Public Schools? (Percent responding 'Yes')
60% 55%
49%
50%

40% 34%
31%
30% 26%
22%
20% 15%
12% 12%
7% 9%
10%
2%
0%
Close schools with Increase school taxes Reduce Reduce the length of Reduce teacher pay & Reduce the number of
low enrollment extracurricular the school day benefits teachers
activities

All Respondents Parents Only

The Challenge of Funding
How much in additional local taxes are you willing to pay per
year to improve Duval County public schools? (Registered voters only)

While 47% of
<$50 registered voters are
unwilling to pay
additional taxes, 46%
$50-$99 are willing to pay at
Not willing least $50 a year.
$100-$149
7% are undecided.

$150-$199

$200+