Standardized testing is valued far more by Latino voters than non-Latino voters while Latino voters are more optimistic when it comes to investing in public education, according to the latest poll.

Latino voters have a stronger opinion of examinations in public schools than their white counterparts. That sentiment is particularly true when it comes to Latino voters who didn't attend college.

According to a poll conducted by USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles Times, Latinos without college education are 21 percent more likely than non-Latino whites to support standardized testing, while college-educated Latinos are 11 percent more likely to believe that testing does more good than harm.

Overall, 55 percent of Latino voters believe that mandatory exams can help to improve public education, evaluate students, and offer students vital information. Roughly, the same percent of whites believe that exams narrow instruction and doesn't account for different learning styles.

Underprivileged families are more focused on the potential gains of testing, while well-to-do families can afford to focus on their children's stress levels, according to the poll. For those who aren't able to afford private tutors or high-cost evaluations, school testing is precisely the only way to measure their child's progress. And testing is viewed as the best way to ensure that children are learning skills needed to pursue a college education and enter the workforce. Just 23 percent of Latinos believe that students are tested far too much, compared to 44 percent of white voters.

Some naysayers, such as educators and parents, believe that standardized testing is vital but must be changed to improve testing. According to opposing parties, teaching the test can leave students unaware of important practical, relevant and historical information. The tests have been accused of distracting time away from proper instruction and for being excessive. Exam supporters disagree, however, insisting that the tests measure teacher performance, student progress and the effectiveness of schools and districts.

More than 1,504 registered voters were polled on testing, as well as financial expenditure concerning schools. Fifty-six percent of white voters believe that money should be invested into existing schools to improve them, compared to nearly 70 percent of non-whites. Also, 80 percent of black and Latino voters communicated that schools in economically or socially disadvantaged areas would benefit from improved quality education, compared to 68 percent of white voters.

Additionally, 59 percent of black voters and 62 percent of white voters believe that tax increases would somewhat improve schools, compared to 19 percent of white voters.

Socioeconomic status and race also proved to play a role when it came to forming opinions about teacher tenure.

Non-white Latinos were more inclined to believe that additional funds should be allotted to financially support schools and preserve tenure for teachers. The poll indicated that many believe that the act of supporting strong teachers lessens turnover and decreases the likelihood that a school will hire ineffective instructors and then dismiss them due to their poor performance.

Almost 70 percent of black and Latino voters indicated that experience was an important factor for teachers. And only 45 percent of white voters indicated that educators shouldn't have tenure status available to them, compared to 31 percent of Asians, 25 percent of Latinos and 17 percent of blacks.

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