By Cristin Severance, WRAL investigative reporter/ documentary producer
A WRAL News poll released this week found most people in North Carolina believe public schools in the state are underfunded.
SurveyUSA conducted the scientific poll of 2,500 randomly selected North Carolina adults from April 6 to 10. Some 62% of the people who participated indicated they believe North Carolina public schools are underfunded.
Here is the breakdown:
- 5% felt North Carolina public schools were overfunded
- 19% felt North Carolina public schools were properly funded
- 62% felt North Carolina public schools were underfunded
- 14% weren’t sure
More than two-thirds of North Carolinians also felt teachers were underpaid.
Here are the results to the question of: “Do you think teachers are overpaid, paid appropriately or underpaid?”:
- 6% felt teachers are overpaid
- 16% felt teachers are paid appropriately
- 68% felt teachers are underpaid
- 10% were not sure
However, North Carolinians were split on whether the state provides a sound, basic education for every child:
- 32% said “yes”
- 48% said “no”
- 20% said “not sure”
The 2,500 people interviewed were also asked: Do public schools in North Carolina focus too much on the role of African Americans in history? Focus the right amount on the role of African Americans in history? Or not focus enough on the role of African Americans in history?
- Focus too much: 20%
- Focus the right amount: 23%
- Not focus enough: 30%
- Not sure: 27%
SurveyUSA conducted the interviews in several regions of North Carolina, including Charlotte and west, the Greensboro area, the Raleigh area, southern and coastal communities. Lucid Holdings LLC of New Orleans selected a random sample of participants.
Results have credibility intervals of plus or minus 2.5-2.6 percentage points.
