Maurice Carroll, Assistant

Director,
Quinnipiac University Poll
(203) 582-5334
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations
Contact:
Pat Smith
(212)
FOR
RELEASE:
JUNE 4,
2015

NY STATE VOTERS BACK TAX HELP FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS 2-1,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
STATE VOTERS OPPOSE MAYORAL CONTROL OF NYC SCHOOLS
New York State voters support 66 30 percent providing $500 state income tax credits for
parents making up to $60,000 per year and who pay tuition for children to attend private schools,
including religious schools, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Support is 73 23 percent among New York City voters, 60 37 percent upstate and

67

30 in the suburbs, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.

Voters also support 55 40 percent providing tax credits to individuals and companies
which donate to private schools, including religious schools. Democrats are divided with 49
percent in favor and 46 percent opposed, but other party, gender, regional and income groups
support the measure, including 60 36 percent in New York City.
New York State voters oppose 55 34 percent allowing the New York City mayor to
continue control of the citys public schools. New York City voters are divided on mayoral
control, with 48 percent in favor and 44 percent opposed. Opposition is 59 23 percent upstate
and 64 28 percent in the suburbs.
Mayor Bill de Blasio gets a negative 28 40 percent favorability rating, with a 46 41
percent positive in New York City and negative grades of 12 29 percent upstate and 27 57
percent in the suburbs.
Supported by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and by religious leaders, theres a late push for tax
breaks for contributors to private and parochial schools and tax breaks for parents. Voters like
the ideas, especially the tax break for parents, said Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the
Quinnipiac University Poll. New York City voters like the tax break for parents 3-1.
What upstate and suburban voters dont like is giving New York City Mayor Bill de
Blasio continued control of public schools in his city.
-more

Quinnipiac University Poll/June 4, 2015 page 2

New York State voters disapprove 59 30 percent of the way Gov. Andrew Cuomo is
handling education. Voters trust the teachers unions more than the governor, 54 30 percent, to
improve education in New York.
Voters have a dim view of standardized tests to measure student performance, saying:

64 30 percent that these tests are not an accurate way to measure how well students are
learning;
51 45 percent that students should be allowed to refuse to take these tests;
69 26 percent that teacher pay should not be based on student test scores;
65 29 percent that teacher tenure should not be based on standardized test scores.
New York State voters support an expansion of charter schools 53 39 percent, with the

strongest support, 62 33 percent, among New York City voters.

Rating teachers on how their pupils do on standardized tests is a bad idea, New Yorkers
think, Carroll said. As a matter of fact, voters don't trust those tests to be an accurate measure
of teachers' performance. A bare majority say kids should be allowed to opt out of the tests.
Minimum Wage
Voters support 71 27 percent raising the $8.75 per hour minimum wage to $10.50 per
hour in New York State. Support is 92 6 percent among Democrats and 71 27 percent among
independent voters, with Republicans opposed 56 41 percent.
Offered several options, voter choices are:

21 percent to raise the minimum wage above $8.75 but less than $10.50 per hour;
32 percent to increase the minimum wage to $10.50;
35 percent to increase the minimum wage above $10.50;
11 percent for no increase.
New York State voters support 61 34 percent raising the minimum wage in New York

City to $11.50 per hour. Support is 72 25 percent among city voters, 48 42 percent upstate
and 63 35 percent in the suburbs. Voters statewide oppose 53 42 percent raising the New
York City minimum wage to $13 per hour. City voters support the $13 level 58 39 percent,
with opposition at 64 27 percent upstate and 59 40 percent in the suburbs.
From May 28 June 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,229 New York State voters
with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell
phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Ohio,
Virginia, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

13. Is your opinion of Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough
about him?

Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

46%
41
10
2

31%
56
10
3

60%
27
12
1

45%
45
7
3

46%
45
8
1

47%
38
13
2

41%
37
21
1

48%
41
9
2

49%
43
5
3

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED

35%
53
10
2

54%
31
13
2

52%
39
6
2

TREND: Is your opinion of Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough
about him? (*High also 63% Apr 2009 and Feb 2009)

Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED

Jun 04
2015

Mar 23
2015

Dec 23
2014

Aug 20
2014

May 21
2014

FAVORABLE.....
High
Low
Jun 24 Jun 04
2009*
2015

46
41
10
2

47
43
8
2

52
33
12
3

55
36
6
3

55
30
11
3

63
15
20
2

46
41
10
2

14. Is your opinion of Bill de Blasio favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough
about him?

Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

28%
40
29
3

6%
60
30
3

48%
24
27
2

24%
42
30
4

28%
42
28
2

29%
38
30
3

32%
24
43
2

31%
43
23
3

24%
45
28
3

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED

12%
29
56
3

46%
41
11
1

27%
57
12
4

TREND: Is your opinion of Bill de Blasio favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?

Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED

Jun 04
2015

Mar 23
2015

Dec 23
2014

Feb 12
2014

28
40
29
3

31
42
25
2

33
36
29
3

31
24
44
2

15. Who do you think most closely represents your political views, Governor Andrew Cuomo,
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, or neither?

Cuomo
de Blasio
Neither
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

23%
20
53
3

15%
5
78
3

29%
36
32
3

25%
14
57
4

22%
18
58
2

25%
21
49
5

17%
26
52
5

23%
22
53
3

28%
15
54
3

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Cuomo
de Blasio
Neither
DK/NA

20%
9
67
3

22%
35
38
4

31%
13
54
2

TREND: Who do you think most closely represents your political views, Governor
Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, or neither?

Cuomo
de Blasio
Neither
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

Dec 23
2014

23
20
53
3

26
22
50
3

31
20
44
5

21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling - education?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

30%
59
11

25%
64
11

38%
52
11

30%
61
10

31%
57
12

30%
61
10

30%
58
11

30%
60
10

32%
58
10

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

21%
70
8

40%
47
13

29%
59
12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling education?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

May 30
2012

Feb 16
2012

30
59
11

28
63
9

47
31
22

45
42
13

24. The minimum wage is currently $8.75 an hour in New York State, and is set to rise to
$9 an hour at the end of the year. Would you support or oppose an increase in the minimum
wage to $10.50 an hour in New York State?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

71%
27
2

41%
56
3

92%
6
1

71%
27
2

68%
31
1

74%
22
3

75%
23
2

71%
27
2

72%
27
1

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Support
Oppose
DK/NA

60%
39
1

81%
16
3

74%
24
2

TREND: The minimum wage is currently $8.75 an hour in New York State, and is set to rise
to $9 an hour at the end of the year. Would you support or oppose an increase in the
minimum wage to $10.50 an hour in New York State?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

71
27
2

73
24
2

25. Which comes closest to your point of view: there should be no increase in the minimum
wage, there should be an increase in the minimum wage but not as high as $10.50 an hour,
there should be an increase in the minimum wage to $10.50 an hour, or there should be an
increase in the minimum wage higher than $10.50 an hour?

No increase
Increase < $10.50
Increase to $10.50
Increase > $10.50
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

11%
21
32
35
1

24%
42
26
7
1

1%
9
32
57
-

10%
22
38
30
-

16%
20
31
33
-

7%
22
33
37
1

14%
18
29
38
-

11%
19
32
37
1

9%
22
36
32
1

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
No increase
Increase < $10.50
Increase to $10.50
Increase > $10.50
DK/NA

18%
27
31
23
1

6%
13
31
49
1

8%
24
36
32
-

26. How about in New York City; would you support or oppose a minimum wage of $11.50 an
hour in New York City?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

61%
34
5

28%
67
5

83%
13
4

61%
33
6

59%
37
4

62%
32
6

67%
30
3

63%
34
3

57%
35
8

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Support
Oppose
DK/NA

48%
42
10

72%
25
3

63%
35
2

TREND: How about in New York City; Would you support or oppose a minimum wage of $11.50 an
hour in New York City?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

61
34
5

68
27
5

27. Would you support or oppose a minimum wage of $13.00 an hour in New York City?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

42%
53
5

10%
87
3

65%
32
3

38%
56
6

39%
57
4

44%
50
6

47%
50
3

45%
51
4

37%
56
7

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Support
Oppose
DK/NA

27%
64
8

58%
39
4

40%
59
2

TREND: Would you support or oppose a minimum wage of $13.00 an hour in New York City?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

42
53
5

47
47
6

28. Who do you trust more to improve education in New York State, Governor Cuomo or the
teachers' unions?

Cuomo
Teachers' unions
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

30%
54
16

33%
45
22

31%
57
12

28%
58
14

33%
50
17

27%
58
15

24%
66
10

29%
58
13

33%
47
20

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Cuomo
Teachers' unions
DK/NA

24%
60
17

37%
49
14

29%
53
18

TREND: Who do you trust more to improve education in New York State, Governor Cuomo or the
teachers unions?

Cuomo
Teachers' unions
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

30
54
16

28
55
17

29. Do you think teacher - pay should or should not be based on how well their students
perform on standardized tests?

Should
Should not
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

26%
69
4

30%
66
4

22%
72
6

27%
69
3

30%
65
5

22%
74
4

26%
70
4

23%
74
4

29%
66
5

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Should
Should not
DK/NA

28%
69
4

28%
66
6

20%
76
3

TREND: Do you think teacher pay should or should not be based on how well their students
perform on standardized tests?

Should
Should not
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

26
69
4

25
71
4

30. Do you think teacher - tenure should or should not be based on how well their students
perform on standardized tests?
AGE IN YRS.......
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
18-34 35-54 55+
Should
Should not
DK/NA

29%
65
6

30%
64
7

26%
67
6

29%
67
4

31%
62
7

27%
68
5

30%
68
2

26%
68
6

30%
62
8

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Should
Should not
DK/NA

27%
67
6

33%
60
8

26%
70
3

TREND: Do you think teacher tenure should or should not be based on how well their
students perform on standardized tests?

Should
Should not
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

29
65
6

30
65
5

31. How much should these tests count in a teacher evaluation: 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, or not
at all?
AGE IN YRS.......
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
18-34 35-54 55+
100%
75%
50%
25%
Not at all
DK/NA

5%
13
31
27
21
2

4%
17
36
24
18
1

7%
12
27
31
20
2

4%
13
31
26
24
2

5%
13
33
27
20
1

5%
13
29
27
23
3

3%
16
39
31
11
1

4%
14
26
30
26
2

7%
11
34
23
22
3

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
100%
75%
50%
25%
Not at all
DK/NA

3%
12
31
26
25
2

8%
15
31
24
19
3

2%
11
32
33
20
1

32. Do you think standardized tests are or are not an accurate way to measure how well
students are learning?
AGE IN YRS.......
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
18-34 35-54 55+
Yes/Accurate
No/Not accurate
DK/NA

30%
64
6

32%
62
5

30%
63
7

30%
64
6

33%
61
6

27%
67
7

33%
64
3

25%
70
5

32%
59
9

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Yes/Accurate
No/Not accurate
DK/NA

27%
68
6

34%
59
7

28%
66
6

33. Do you think students should or should not be allowed to refuse to take standardized
tests designed to measure how well they are learning?
AGE IN YRS.......
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
18-34 35-54 55+
Should
Should not
DK/NA

51%
45
4

46%
52
2

50%
47
3

54%
42
4

50%
47
3

52%
43
4

54%
44
2

58%
38
4

45%
50
5

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Should
Should not
DK/NA

56%
40
4

45%
50
5

52%
46
2

34. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations.
The schools are paid for with public funds. Do you think there should be an expansion of
charter schools in New York State or not?
AGE IN YRS.......
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
18-34 35-54 55+
Yes
No
DK/NA

53%
39
8

61%
31
8

51%
41
8

53%
41
6

54%
38
8

53%
40
7

52%
39
9

55%
40
5

52%
39
9

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Yes
No
DK/NA

47%
44
9

62%
33
6

50%
42
8

TREND: As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit
organizations. The schools are paid for with public funds. Do you think there should be an
expansion of charter schools in New York State or not?

Yes
No
DK/NA

Jun 04
2015

Mar 18
2015

Feb 16
2012

53
39
8

50
41
9

48
42
11

35. As you may know, in New York City the mayor has control of the public schools. Mayoral
control of the New York City public schools expires this year, unless the state
legislature renews it. Do you think mayoral control of the New York City public schools
should continue or not?
AGE IN YRS.......
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
18-34 35-54 55+
Continue
Stop
DK/NA

34%
55
12

18%
71
10

48%
41
12

31%
57
11

37%
52
11

31%
57
12

47%
46
7

30%
60
10

30%
57
13

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Continue
Stop
DK/NA

23%
59
18

48%
44
7

28%
64
8

TREND: As you may know, in New York City the mayor has control of the public schools.
Mayoral control of the New York City public schools expires this year, unless the state
legislature renews it. Do you think mayoral control of the New York City public schools
should continue or not?

Continue
Stop
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Jun 23
2009

34
55
12

51
33
17

36. Do you support or oppose providing state income tax credits for individuals and
companies which donate money to private schools, including religious schools?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

55%
40
5

74%
24
2

49%
46
5

53%
43
4

53%
44
3

57%
37
6

59%
39
2

51%
45
4

57%
37
6

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Support
Oppose
DK/NA

52%
43
5

60%
36
4

53%
42
5

37. Do you support or oppose providing $500 state income tax credits for parents with an
annual income of $60,000 or less who pay tuition for their children to attend private
schools, including religious schools?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

66%
30
3

72%
25
3

68%
28
4

65%
34
1

66%
32
3

67%
29
4

72%
27
1

67%
30
2

64%
32
5

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Support
Oppose
DK/NA

60%
37
3

73%
23
3

67%
30
3

10