New Poll Shows Strong Support for Investments in Child Care: 73% of Voters Back Common Start Proposal
A new statewide poll of Massachusetts voters, conducted on behalf of the Common Start Coalition, demonstrates strong public support for investments in early education and child care, with 73% of the state’s voters backing the Common Start proposal to create a universal childcare program in Massachusetts.
As advocates prepare for a new legislative session in January, the poll shows that “a majority of Massachusetts voters readily accept three key tenets underlying the push to create a universal childcare program in the state: that most MA families cannot afford the high cost of childcare; that childcare workers are significantly underpaid; and that state government should have a role in addressing this issue,” according to Beacon Research, which conducted the poll.
The poll finds that support for state investment in early education and child care has increased significantly over the past two years. A clear majority (63%) of Massachusetts voters believe state government “should be involved in helping people deal with their childcare needs,” up from 59% two years ago. The proportion of voters who favor “increasing taxpayer funding for childcare programs in Massachusetts” has increased to 58% from 48% two years ago.
The poll tested voter support for the Common Start proposal to provide universal access to high-quality childcare in Massachusetts, describing it as follows: “There is a proposal that may come up in the state legislature next year to create a universal childcare program in Massachusetts. Under this plan, state government would subsidize the cost of providing all Massachusetts families with access to affordable childcare, starting at birth. Programs would be available in licensed childcare centers, family childcare homes, and public schools, similar to the way childcare is provided now. Families below a certain income level would be able to access childcare options without paying anything. Families with higher incomes would pay a sliding-scale fee based on their income. Do you favor or oppose creating a universal childcare program like this?”
The poll found widespread public support for this proposal, with 73% of Massachusetts voters favoring the measure, compared to 18% opposing it. Support is up nearly 10 points from two years ago, when the corresponding margin on this question was 64%-23%. A majority of all regional, gender, age, education, ethnic/racial, and income groups support the proposal, including 86% of Democrats, 68% of independents, and 61% of Republicans. Among voters with school-age children, support for the proposal stands at 80%-15%, while among those without young children, support stands at 70%-20%.
Read more about the poll’s findings:
This survey of 817 Massachusetts voters who voted in the Nov. 8th general election was conducted online by Beacon Research between Nov. 14-21, 2022. The sample was weighted slightly to match the Massachusetts electorate in terms of region, gender, age, and race. It was paid for by The Coalition for Social Justice Education Fund on behalf of the Common Start Coalition. The poll is a follow-up to a survey conducted for the Common Start Coalition in Dec. 2020.