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If that two points is within the poll’s margin of error, which of course it is (but which would be easier to check if you had reported it, which you should routinely do) …. then there really is no change here to report. You use the word “rise” in your headline. That was not accurate.

How is a 2% rise in Klein’s approval rate in 11 months newsworthy? What was his approval rate in early December 2009, when he announced the closing of 20 schools, and January 27th, the day he made his speech at the PEP meeting to confirm the closing of those schools? What is his approval rate in each borough starting with the Bronx? Exclude Staten Island since there are no schools being closed in that borough. How many people were surveyed that have children in charter schools? That was not detailed in the survey.

So Klein’s own report card average is < 40%!!! He’s an abject failure by his own standards!!

I know poll results are hard to read, but:

2009 March 37% approved, 35% disapproved (net +2%)
2010 February 39% approved, 40% disapproved (net -1%)

But even as it looks like his popularity has slipped 3%, all of this is well within margin of error. There is no measurable change.

@Pogue: Disapproval is at 40, not 60. There is a large “don’t know” chunk.
@I noticed: -10 in the Bronx, -7 in Queens, -1 in Brooklyn, +5 in Staten Island, +12 in Manhattan. Manhattan has the greatest proportion of households without kids.

@all: Here’s the full numbers, a bit hard to read because of some wacky spacing, but undistorted by charting or reporting:

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joel Klein is handling his job as New York City Schools Chancellor?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp
Approve 39% 46% 40% 40% 44% 38% 36%
Disapprove 40 31 40 39 34 45 41
DK/NA 21 23 20 20 23 17 22

Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom
Approve 36% 40% 43% 36% 49% 44% 36%
Disapprove 46 41 31 43 44 38 42
DK/NA 18 20 27 21 7 19 22

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joel Klein is handling his job as New York City Schools Chancellor?

APPROVE…….
High Low
Feb 17 Mar 24 Feb 24 Jan 27 Nov 25 Feb 26 Mar 15
2010 2009 2009 2009 2008 2003 2007
Approve 39 37 44 43 43 46 33
Disapprove 40 35 36 36 35 27 43
DK/NA 21 28 20 21 22 28 24

Yes, Quinnipiac… the same people who gave Bloomberg a “blow out” 18% margin just a week or so before the Mayoral Election last Fall. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1302.xml?ReleaseID=1388
Probably responsible for causing the required 5% of the voters to give up and stay home and helping Bloomberg slide (slither) back into office. I wonder if any Quinnipiac people will wind up paying cash for a home in Queens anytime soon.