Majority of Arizona Voters Agree on Increased Investment and Improvement in Education

Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) released its education findings from the newly launched 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda, which identifies what likely voters agree on and prioritize. A new statewide survey demonstrates overwhelming support from voters across all political parties and age groups for education issues, including investing in education, transparency and accountability for private schools accepting state funding through Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and proactive measures to establish high-quality education for all.

The new survey results indicate that voters share a desire to improve education in the state. Only 10% of all voters see the state’s current K-12 public education system as “very good” or “excellent,” while 46% see it as “poor” or “failing.” At the same time, education is a top issue for voters, and the findings reveal overwhelming support for actions to enhance overall educational quality.

“The Arizona Voters’ Agenda offers an evidence-based look at voters’ priorities. Voters are sending a clear message that every child in Arizona should have a quality education,” said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA. “The level of support for education is consistent with CFA’s research conducted over many years. In 2024, we observed an overwhelming agreement on actionable measures that promise genuine improvements, reflecting voters' conviction that quality education is vital for both the present and future.”

An essential priority for nearly all voters—the top education item on the Arizona Voters’ Agenda—is the statement, “Every school should have the resources necessary to deliver quality education that prepares every child for the future, no matter their skin color, background, or zip code.” This is endorsed by 96% of all voters, including 95% Republicans, 96% independents/unaffiliated voters, and 96% Democrats.

Additionally, 79% of all voters support “increasing funding for K-12 public education,” including 66% Republicans, 79% independent/unaffiliated voters, and 93% Democrats. Furthermore, 87% oppose “making cuts to K-12 education” to balance the state budget, including 79% Republicans, 90% independent/unaffiliated voters, and 94% Democrats.

“It is important to note that super-majorities of voters support increased investments in education and oppose cuts to education in service of balancing the state budget. This level of consensus underscores voters' assessment that funding is a crucial factor in strengthening our education system,” said Dr. Francis.

The Arizona Voters’ Agenda survey covered many issues and topics, and some topics did not achieve the agreement levels needed to be included on the resulting Voters’ Agenda. A majority of all likely voters must show a “strong” level of agreement on the issue, and majorities of every political and age segment must show “strong” or “somewhat strong” agreement on the issue. This ensures the Voters’ Agenda truly reflects majority support across all political and generational lines at 50% or above.

“We understand that Arizonans do not agree on everything and that differences of opinion exist,” Dr. Francis added. “The purpose of the Arizona Voters’ Agenda is to ensure that candidates running for office and the media are focused on the issues that matter most to voters and that these are not lost in the fray of hot-button topics that get outsized attention because they resonate strongly among partisan groups.”

While there are differences of opinion about the appropriate level of funding and the effectiveness of Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program, also known as ESAs or universal school vouchers, there is majority support around the need for transparency and accountability for private schools accepting those funds. Eighty percent of all voters support the statement, “Private schools that receive state funding should be held to the same standards as public schools when it comes to financial reporting requirements, academic reporting requirements, and employment standards.” This includes 71% Republicans, 77% independent/unaffiliated voters, and 91% Democrats.

The Arizona Voters’ Agenda also reveals widespread endorsement of pragmatic educational approaches that can significantly enhance academic outcomes. For example, 94% of voters support “ensuring teachers are trained in the most effective approaches to teaching reading,” including 93% Republicans, 91% independent/unaffiliated voters, and 96% Democrats.

Voters also recognize the value of pursuing education beyond high school for long-term success. A sizeable 93% support “ensuring every student can access dual enrollment or other early college opportunities to earn college credit while in high school,” and 78% support “increasing need-based state financial aid to encourage more students to enroll in Arizona's public universities and community colleges after high school.”

“The Arizona Voters' Agenda is a valuable resource, informing dialogue and public debate about the issues that matter to the vast majority of Arizona voters,” concluded Dr. Sybil Francis. "Candidates and leaders should seize this opportunity to focus on and address these shared priorities, which can align political discourse with the majority of the electorate and strengthen our democracy in the process."

When it comes to education, the Arizona Voters’ Agenda points to essential questions for moderators, members of the press, community leaders, and voters to ask candidates as they compete for votes in the 2024 elections, including “How will you address funding for K-12 education amidst Arizona's budget deficit?” Get more questions and all insights at arizonafuture.org/ava.

About the Arizona Voters’ Agenda Survey
The first of two planned Arizona Voters’ Agenda surveys ahead of the 2024 election was conducted on March 4-11, 2024, with a random sample of 500 people. The poll surveyed likely Arizona 2024 General Election voters with a history of electoral participation and was balanced to model the likely turnout of voters across party, age, region, and gender. The live interview surveys of voters were conducted in English and Spanish by HighGround, Inc. to landline and cell phone users. The partisan advantage was set at +4% GOP based on previous election trends. The margin of error is ±4.3%.

CFA analyzed the statewide survey data to determine which issues make the cut for the Arizona Voters’ Agenda. To ensure a high threshold of agreement, issues meet all the following criteria:

1. Strong agreement is 50% and above among All Likely Voters
   AND
2. Total agreement (i.e., the sum of somewhat and strong agreement) is 50% and above among every political affiliation (Republican, independent/unaffiliated, and Democratic) and age group (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-64, 65+) of voters surveyed.

Visit arizonafuture.org/ava for more details on the initiative and comprehensive survey information.

The 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda – Education

*Political and age group breakdowns are available at arizonafuture.org/ava.

Survey Demographics:

The 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda initiative is supported in part by Helios Education Foundation, Pivotal Foundation, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation.

About Center for the Future of Arizona
Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan "do-tank" that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state. Through its survey research & communications, Arizona Progress Meters, and impact initiatives & programs in education, workforce, and civic health, CFA listens to Arizonans to learn what matters most to them, shares trusted data about how Arizona is doing in those priority areas, brings critical issues to public attention, and works with communities and leaders to solve public problems. CFA’s work is focused on building The Arizona We Want –a research-informed vision of success for the state, where all Arizonans, now and in the future, thrive and enjoy sustained prosperity, unmatched quality of life, and real opportunity.

CFA develops the Arizona Voters’ Agenda initiative to put the voices of Arizona voters at the forefront of election dialogue, encourage candidates and media to focus on what Arizonans agree on and care about for our state, and increase voter engagement by building a positive agenda that focuses on outcomes that voters across age and political affiliation want.