Dive Brief:

• A Quinnipiac poll found 49% disapprove of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s handling of public education. De Blasio's views have proven to be polarizing: His universal pre-kindergarten initiative asks to increase taxes on the wealthy, and he has spoken out on the need to slow the expansion of charter schools.  

• The poll did show 86% back universal pre-kindergarten, de Blasio's main agenda; however, 54% of those supporters favor Gov. Cuomo’s idea of using existing state revenues to pay for it, versus the 39% who support de Blasio’s plan to increase taxes on the rich. 

• While the poll indicates the public is not too happy with de Blasio’s approach to public education, the mayor’s team views the poll as a win. The fact that so many are behind universal pre-kindergarten is the silver lining, according to spokesman Phil Walzak. 

Dive Insight:

One issue this poll raises is the public’s perception of de Blasio being anti-charter. Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo have been "facing off" ever since de Blasio rejected three co-location agreements for charter schools in the city; the mayor has been pegged as the perfect counter to Cuomo's pro-charter advocacy.

While debates are much easier when there is a clear juxtaposition in views, de Blasio's rejection of the co-location agreement was not an intentional assault on the charter school movement and his comments on slowing charter expansion are not the same as saying New York must get rid of them.  

As de Blasio's spokesman, Phil Walzak, says, “Mayor de Blasio has always said that charter schools are part of the broad plan to provide a great education to every child in New York City.”