Ep 39: Steve Koczela on Polling for the Future of Education

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Jill talks to Steve Koczela, president of MassINC Polling Group. Founded in 2010, Steve has helped grow MassINC Polling into a leader of measuring and interpreting public opinion in Massachusetts and in the United States. A recent poll conducted by MPG has revealed important feedback from families regarding  learning during the pandemic in Massachusetts schools. 

Over the past 10 years, Steve has helped grow the MassINC Polling Group into a respected poll provider across the country. He has worked with WBUR in providing election polling in an 8-year partnership, which has been widely considered the state’s poll of record. His analysis has been featured on CNN, WBUR, NHPR, and other national and regional news outlets. Before founding and working for MPG, he conducted survey research for the U.S. Department of State, the Obama 2008 presidential campaign, and other private corporations. 

We talk to Steve about a recent poll he conducted in November regarding the start of the 2020-21 school year. Sampling families across Massachusetts, the poll reveals important insights into how different types of learning are impacting students and trends that indicate underlying issues and inequities.

To read MPG’s poll, you can find it here. Check out some of the other important resources below.

Resources:

• Here is the Boston Globe article that discusses MPG’s poll

• Here is more information about the MassINC Polling Group

• Here is a link to Steve Koczela’s Biography

• Here are the most recent polls MPG has published