Civitas Poll: Majority of North Carolinians Want Smaller Class Sizes

The full text of the relevant questions are below.

In fall 2017, a requirement of the 2016 state budget requiring smaller class sizes takes effect in North Carolina Public Schools. Proponents say the new law will lead to smaller classes and better instruction. Critics say it will force districts to hire more teachers and cutback on non-classroom staff. Some legislators are working to change the law.  With that in mind, do you support or oppose the class size law?

64%     Total Support
21%     Total Oppose

39%     Strongly Support
25%     Somewhat Support
8%       Somewhat Oppose
13%     Strongly Oppose
15%     Don’t Know/ Need More Information
*           Refused

In your opinion which is a higher priority for schools: 

40%     Smaller class sizes in grades K through 3
19%     Budget flexibility for school districts to hire non-classroom teachers
30%     Both are an equal priority
10%     Don’t Know
2%       Refused

Civitas President Francis De Luca said, “North Carolina voters seem to value class size reductions over budget flexibility for schools.  If we can trust local school districts with budget flexibility,  is there a reason why we shouldn’t give them flexibility with class size requirements as well?”

All questions and responses in this poll can be found here.

Cross tabs for this question can be found here.

This poll surveyed 600 registered, likely voters (30% on cell phones) with a margin of error of +/- 4.00%. This survey was taken April 22-23, 2017.

To arrange an interview with Civitas President Francis De Luca, email Demi Dowdy at demi.dowdy@nccivitas.org or call (919) 747-8064.

Civitas has conducted live-caller voting in North Carolina since May 2005, and we are the only organization offering independent, nonpartisan data on current opinion. In the decade we’ve been conducting them, our polls have provided vital insights on what North Carolina voters truly think of the leaders and issues facing the state and nation.

Founded in 2005, the Civitas Institute is a Raleigh, NC-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization committed to  advancing conservative ideas and shrinking the size of government. Civitas fights to eliminate government barriers to freedom so that North Carolinians can live a better life.

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