A recent poll of 800 Pennsylvania voters indicated that support for government-run youth education and social welfare programs remain high in the state.
The poll, commissioned by the Early Learning PA Coalition and conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research from Feb. 1-7, focused on voters’ support for various education and social programs, including childcare for “low-income working families” and pre-k programs for “lower and middle-class families.”
Press releases and news stories have headlined the first question of the poll – the only poll question not involving funding: “Research has proven that the first 5 years of life is the most rapid period of brain development. How important do you believe early childhood education is to helping people lead healthy and productive lives – would you say very important, somewhat important, not very important or not important at all?”
Ninety-eight percent of respondents said they believe early childhood education is either “very important” or “somewhat important.”
Unlike the first question, the next four questions specifically addressed increasing government funding for social programs and services.
For example, 78% of respondents thought the state should increase its allocation of funding for pre-k programs for lower and middle-class families. Eighty-one percent favored increasing state funding to increase the wages of childcare workers. And 62% said funding should be increased for “home visiting programs that provide voluntary in-home, parental support services to expecting parents and families with young children.”
According to self-reported data, 40% of respondents were registered Republican voters, and 46% were Democrats.
Chris Hume is the host of The Lancaster Patriot Podcast and the author of several books, including Seven Statist Sins. He can be reached at info@thelancasterpatriot.com.
