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National Polls on "English for the Children"

Since passage of Proposition 227 in California, there have been several statewide polls across the country by regional polling organizations. All have shown very strong support for the measure, but with some variation based on the state and the phrasing of the question. Below is a detailed summary of the results of each survey.

 

(1) Zogby International, Nov. 15-17 & Dec. 10-13, 1998, 1949 likely American voters

"There is federal legislation proposed which would require all public school instruction to be conducted in English and for students not fluent in English to be placed in an intensive one-year English immersion program. As of today, do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose such a law?"

  All DEM REP Others White Latino Asian Black MEN WOM Jewish
Strongly Support 52 48 59 49 56 38 64 37 54 50 64
Somewhat Support 25 24 25 25 25 26 21 26 25 25 25
Total Support 77 72 84 74 81 64 85 63 79 75 88
Not sure 4 6 2 3 3 6 -- 7 3 5 --
Total Oppose 19 22 13 23 16 30 15 30 18 20 12
Somewhat Oppose 10 10 7 13 9 9 7 14 8 11 7
Strongly Oppose 10 13 6 10 7 21 9 16 10 9 4

  East South Central West V/Lib Lib Mod Con V/Con Union Born/Again
Strongly Support 55 51 54 47 40 43 47 56 72 56 58
Somewhat Support 24 23 25 27 26 21 31 25 5 22 26
Total Support 79 74 79 74 67 64 78 80 77 78 83
Not sure 3 5 3 5 8 3 3 4 5 3 4
Total Oppose 18 21 18 22 25 33 19 16 18 19 13
Somewhat Oppose 6 12 10 10 6 16 12 10 1 8 6
Strongly Oppose 11 10 8 12 19 17 8 7 16 11 7

(2) Zogby International, Oct. 20-23, 1998, 1411 likely New York voters

"There is legislation proposed for New York State which would require all public school instruction to be conducted in English and for students not fluent in English to be placed in an intensive one-year English immersion program. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose such a law?"

  All DEM REP Others White Latino Black Jewish NYC
Strongly Support 58 51 66 58 59 46 50 56 56
Somewhat Support 22 22 21 23 22 16 28 20 19
Total Support 79 72 87 81 81 62 77 75 75
Not sure 7 8 6 5 6 5 7 6 7
Total Oppose 14 20 8 14 13 33 16 18 18
Somewhat Oppose 7 10 5 6 7 10 10 9 7
Strongly Oppose 7 10 3 8 6 23 7 9 11

 

(3) Talmey-Drake Research, Oct. 9-15, 1998, 706 registered Colorado voters.

"Though not on this November’s ballot, some people have proposed putting an initiative on the Colorado ballot that would require all public school instruction to be conducted in English and for students not fluent in English to be placed in an intensive one-year English immersion program. If the election were being held today, would you vote for or against this initiative?…And would you say you are strongly for/against this proposal to require all public school instruction to be conducted in English or would you say that you are only moderately for/against it?"

  All DEM REP Others MEN WOM White Latino
Strongly For 47 37 52 49 49 45 49 25
Moderately For 16 13 17 19 18 14 16 23
Total For 63 50 70 68 67 59 66 48
Undecided/DK 11 12 12 9 8 13 11 5
Total Against 26 38 18 23 25 27 23 47
Moderately Against 13 16 11 11 12 13 13 14
Strongly Against 13 23 6 12 12 14 10 34

 

(4) Arizona Opinion, Oct. 19-21, 1998, 600 likely Arizona voters.

"There is an initiative suggested for a future statewide ballot that would require all public school instruction to be conducted in English and that students not fluent in English be placed in an intensive one-year English immersion program. If the election were held today, would you be inclined to support or oppose this measure? …Would that be strongly support/oppose or somewhat support/oppose?"

  All DEM REP Others MEN WOM
Strongly Support 53 40 64 63 52 55
Somewhat Support 19 23 17 12 22 16
Total Support 72 63 81 75 74 81
Undecided 8 8 8 7 6 10
Total Oppose 20 29 11 18 20 20
Somewhat Oppose 9 11 4 5 10 8
Strongly Oppose 11 18 7 13 10 12

 

(5) Behavior Research Center, Oct. 1998, 720 Arizona residents.

"There is an initiative proposed for the Arizona ballot that would require all public school instruction to be conducted in English and for students not fluent in English to be placed in an intensive one-year English immersion program. If the election were being held today, would you vote yes or would you vote no on this measure?"

  All DEM REP IND MEN WOM
Vote for 70 63 79 68 71 69
Don't know 8 7 6 122 7 9
Vote against 22 30 14 20 22 22