N.J. poll finds support for easier teacher dismissal, merit pay

 By The Associated Press January 21, 2010, 7:02AM

A poll found New Jersey voters support merit pay for teachers, but oppose expansion of charter schools. The Quinnipiac University Poll out today found two-thirds of those surveyed want to tie teachers' pay to their performance. That's about the same number who said it should be easier to fire bad teachers.

Voters overall oppose more charter schools by 52 percent to 40 percent Opposition is strongest in union households. Urban and black voters favor more charters.

Gov. Chris Christie and his nominee for education commissioner, Bret Schundler, are proponents of merit pay and school choice. "New Jersey's new Governor, Christopher Christie, and Education Commissioner Bret Schundler like merit pay for good teachers. So do voters, by margins topping 2-1. As a bonus, voters think it ought to be easier to fire bad teachers," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"But Gov. Christie's and Commissioner Schundler's support for charter schools doesn't resonate with voters, except for black, urban voters who are most dissatisfied with their public schools."

The telephone poll of 1,175 New Jersey voters was taken Jan. 13-18 and has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

Previous coverage:

• N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment

• Once powerful teachers union faces tough times with Christie