The University of Arkansas plans to gauge Arkansans' opinions on three main topics, including reforming education, beginning today.
The fifth-annual Arkansas Poll will ask adults in the state their opinions on education reform, e-government and elderly care. Janine Parry, director of the poll, said her top priority this year was expanding education questions from last year's survey. This marks the second year education has topped the list of questions.
The Arkansas Supreme Court set a Jan. 1 deadline for the state Legislature to develop a plan to improve the state's public education system, one it deemed inadequate and unequitable.
"From the Supreme Court's perspective and from that of the average citizen, there is simply no more pressing issue facing Arkansas than reforming public education," said Parry, assistant professor of political science, in a news release.
The Legislature is expected to meet in December to discuss spending $800 million in recommended improvements.
The 2002 poll showed Arkansans tended to agree on several ways to improve education but disagreed on how to pay for them.
People said in the 2002 poll they favored raising teacher salaries, increasing access to state-funded preschool, improving school facilities and expanding career education opportunities.
However, findings were mixed regarding how to fund those improvements.
About 58 percent supported increasing at least one of the three main taxes in the state.
But 38 percent suggested raising the sales tax and even less suggested an increase in income or property taxes.
"Last year's poll illustrated that we have a big wish list for improving public education, if somewhat less enthusiasm for paying for it. With the past year's increased attention to the crisis, I expect we'll find people being a bit more realistic about both," Parry said in the release.
Lawmakers requested specifics about the last education poll, with poll officials producing detailed age and district breakdowns on questions.
"One really neat aspect of the poll is that it can be used by lawmakers as better evidence for their opinions," Gary Ritter, assistant professor of education and public policy, said Friday.
Calling for the poll, consisting of 70 questions, should last until Oct. 16, with results available Oct. 29.
Web Watch
The results of the 1999 to 2002 versions of the Arkansas Poll are available at http://plsc.uark.edu/arkpoll/.
Quelle: The Morning News
