WISH-TV/Ball State Survey Shows Support For Pre-k And Textbooks

Rachel Morello / StateImpact Indiana

Policymakers and educators around the state have embraced the push for more high quality pre-k programs.

A statewide survey conducted by WISH-TV and Ball State University shows the majority of Hoosiers want the state to pay for textbooks and pre-k programs.

WISH-TV reports this majority is high, and the support pleases Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard:

82 percent of the people surveyed said such programs should be available to all children in Indiana. Four out of five said the state should pay for them.

That will come as no surprise to the people in Mayor Ballard’s Office.

“Support for pre-K is overwhelming in the city. We polled it. It’s overwhelming. Polled higher than anything we’ve ever done,” Ballard told 24-Hour News 8.

Another topic the survey polled is who should cover the cost of textbooks for students. As we’ve reported, Indiana is one of a handful of states to charge parents for their child’s textbooks. According to the survey, 68 percent of those polled would like to see the General Assembly approve a 3 percent increase in the Department of Education’s budget to pay for textbooks.

The full report, which surveys the state’s residents on relevant topics the legislature could consider, will be released Wednesday.