New Survey: Among White Americans, Support for Poverty-Related Issues Limited at Both Ends of Educational Spectrum

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A survey released today by PRRI finds that white Americans' support for policies to address poverty is limited in different ways by education level—by perceived social distance to racial minorities among non-college-educated whites and by lower commitments to equal opportunity among college-educated whites.

The survey was conducted by PRRI, a nonpartisan research organization, among 3,455 adults—including an oversample of residents in the Southeast and Southwest—between April 11-May 12, 2017. The survey also finds broad support for a range of policies to assist disadvantaged families and children, but skepticism particularly about the federal government's competency to implement policies well.

Using an index of perceived social distance from a variety of minority groups, the survey finds that fewer than half of whites without a college degree have a moderate (31%) or high (10%) affinity for these groups. By contrast, nearly two-thirds of whites with a college degree have a moderate (45%) or high degree (19%) of affinity toward people of different racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds. These disparities impact policy attitudes. For example, six in ten (60%) college-educated whites agree public schools that serve many poor students, students learning English as a second language, and students in foster care should receive more money per student than other public schools who serve fewer of these students. By contrast, non-college-educated whites are divided on this question (48% agree, 50% disagree). 

On the other hand, despite their generally higher level of affinity for minority communities, white college-educated Americans are significantly less likely to believe that a lack of equal opportunity is a big problem compared to whites without a college degree (56% vs. 63%, respectively). White college-educated Americans are also less likely than non-college whites to say that children living in poverty is a critical issue to them (49% vs. 60%, respectively) and to say that the lack of good paying jobs is a major problem facing communities in the country today (36% vs. 56%, respectively).

"A central takeaway of the survey is that support for issues affecting disadvantaged kids is limited among whites at both ends of the educational spectrum," said Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO of PRRI. "But this manifests in different ways: By negative racial attitudes among the white working class and by a striking lack of concern about equal opportunity among college-educated whites."

Despite these limitations among whites, the survey found broad consensus on selected policies to assist disadvantaged children:

• By a two-to-one margin, Americans say pre-K programs should be supported by local taxpayers in the same way that local public schools are funded (66%) as opposed to parents paying for such programs themselves (33%).
• More than six in ten (61%) Americans believe judges should always consider their decision's impact on children and families when making sentencing and prison-assignment decisions for parents convicted of a crime, compared to (38%) who do not.
• Nearly nine in ten (86%) Americans agree that children whose families cannot afford health insurance should receive coverage through the government.

The topline, full methodology, and additional findings and analysis can be found here: https://www.prri.org/poll-child-welfare-poverty-race-relations-government-trust-policy/.

PRRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization specializing in research at the intersection of religion, values, and public life.

SOURCE PRRI