2009 Survey
OPINION HOWELL, PETERSON, & WEST
2009 Education Next-PEPG Survey of Public Opinion
Public School Performance
Knowledge of Student Performance
1. A 2006 government survey ranked the math skills of 15-year-olds in 29 industrialized countries. What is your best guess of where American 15-year-olds ranked on this test?
National 3% 8 22 31 21 16 White 2% 6 21 30 24 17 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 4% 5 24 37 15 14 Hispanic 7% 18 27 30 11 6 Public School Teachers 0% 8 13 25 33 21
a) 1-5 (best) b) 6-10 c) 11-15 d) 16-20 e) 21-25 f) 26-29 (worst)
2. What is your best guess as to the percentage of students in U.S. public school who graduate from high school within four years of entering 9th grade?
National 66% White 69% Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 56% Hispanic 59% Public School Teachers 66%
Mean
Grading the Public Schools (Experiment with 3 conditions)
3a. Students are often given the grades A, B, C, D, and Fail to denote the quality of their work. Suppose the public schools themselves were graded in the same way. What grade would you give the public schools in the nation as a whole?
National 1% 17 57 19 6 White 1% 17 59 20 3 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 1% 11 55 23 10 Hispanic 1% 28 49 13 8 Public School Teachers 1% 26 56 13 4
a) A b) B c) C d) D e) Fail
3b. A 2006 government survey ranked the math skills of 15-year-olds in 29 industrialized countries. In this survey, the United States ranked 24th. Students are often given the grades A, B, C, D, and Fail to denote the quality of their work. Suppose the public schools themselves were graded in the same way. What grade would you give the public schools in the nation as a whole?
National 2% 11 52 25 10 White 1% 10 50 28 11 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 10% 4 59 20 8 Hispanic *% 20 56 15 9 Public School Teachers 2% 30 45 21 2
a) A b) B c) C d) D e) Fail
3c. According to the most recent available data, roughly 75 percent of 9th graders in U.S. public schools graduate from high school within four years. Students are often given the grades A, B, C, D, and Fail to denote the quality of their work. Suppose the public schools themselves were graded in the same way. What grade would you give the public schools in the nation as a whole?
National 2% 18 56 19 5 White 1% 19 56 21 4 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 3% 24 57 9 7 Hispanic 4% 10 62 15 9 Public School Teachers 2% 36 46 12 4
a) A b) B c) C d) D e) Fail
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No Child Left Behind and School Accountability
No Child Left Behind (Experiment with 2 conditions)
4a. As you may know, the No Child Left Behind Act requires states to set standards in math and reading and to test students each year to determine whether schools are making adequate progress, and to intervene when they are not. This year, Congress is deciding whether to renew the No Child Left Behind Act. What do you think Congress should do? Should it…
National 21% 28 30 22 White 18% 28 29 25 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 23% 27 34 16 Hispanic 32% 26 26 16 Public School Teachers 8% 15 38 38
a) Renew the legislation as is b) Renew with minimal changes c) Renew with major changes d) Not renew at all
4b. As you may know, federal legislation requires states to set standards in math and reading and to test students each year to determine whether schools are making adequate progress, and to intervene when they are not. This year, Congress is deciding whether to renew this federal legislation. What do you think Congress should do? Should it…
National 25% 35 28 12 White 23% 32 31 15 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 37% 42 19 2 Hispanic 31% 45 17 6 Public School Teachers 8% 17 47 27
a) Renew the legislation as is b) Renew with minimal changes c) Renew with major changes d) Not renew at all
Common Standards
5. For holding schools accountable, should all state governments adopt the same set of educational standards and give the same tests in math, science and reading? Or do you think that there should be different standards and tests in different states?
National a) One test and standard for all students 72% b) Different tests and standards in different states 19 c) No national or state tests should be given 9 White 75% 16 10 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 71% 25 4 Hispanic 65% 28 7 Public School Teachers 62% 23 15
State Tests
6*. In your state, students in public schools regularly take the [state test]. Do you think the results from these tests provide good information about the quality of the school in your community?
Racial/Ethnic Identity National White African American Hispanic a) Excellent information 6% 5% 12% 8% b) Good information 31 31 32 31 c) Fair information 34 34 26 39 d) Poor information 15 15 11 12 e) No opinion 14 14 19 10 *Note: Each respondent was provided with the name of the test used for accountability purposes in his or her state. Public School Teachers 2% 23 37 30 8
Charter Schools, Vouchers and Tax Credits
Charter School (Experiment with 3 conditions)
7a. Many states permit the formation of charter schools, which are publicly funded but are not managed by the local school board. These schools are expected to meet promised objectives, but are exempt from many state regulations. Do you support or oppose the formation of charter schools?
National 14% 25 44 10 7 White 14% 23 43 11 9 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 14% 35 42 7 2 Hispanic 17% 23 52 5 3 Public School Teachers 14% 23 32 21 10
a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
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2009 Survey
OPINION HOWELL, PETERSON, & WEST
7b. Many states permit the formation of charter schools, which are publicly funded but are not managed by the local school board. These schools are expected to meet promised objectives, but are exempt from many state regulations. President Barack Obama has expressed support for charter schools. What do you think? Do you support or oppose the formation of charter schools?
National a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose 13% 37 37 8 6 White 10% 38 39 9 4 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 23% 30 32 5 10 Hispanic 20% 36 34 6 5 Public School Teachers 11% 32 28 19 10
7c. Many states permit the formation of charter schools, which are publicly funded but are not managed by the local school board. These schools are expected to meet promised objectives, but are exempt from many state regulations. A recent study presents evidence that students learn more in charter schools than in public schools. What do you think? Do you support or oppose the formation of charter schools?
National 24% 29 37 6 5 White 23% 31 35 6 5 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 37% 16 36 10 1 Hispanic 20% 25 50 2 4 Public School Teachers 22% 30 21 14 12
a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
Vouchers (Experiment with 4 conditions)
8a. A proposal has been made that would use government funds to help pay the tuition of low-income students whose families would like them to attend private schools. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?
National 14% 21 24 21 21 White 7% 21 24 23 26 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 34% 23 24 12 7 Hispanic 32% 20 17 20 11 Public School Teachers 12% 18 13 24 34
a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
8b. A proposal has been made that would use government funds to help pay the tuition of low-income students whose families would like them to attend private schools. President Barack Obama has expressed opposition to such a proposal. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?
National 12% 12 23 21 31 White 8% 11 20 24 37 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 26% 19 22 17 16 Hispanic 21% 14 43 6 16 Public School Teachers 6% 13 11 27 42
a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
8c. A proposal has been made that would use government funds to help pay the tuition of low-income students whose families would like them to attend private schools. A recent study presents evidence that students learn no more in private schools than in public schools. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?
National 6% 19 27 22 26 White 3% 18 26 23 31 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 17% 32 32 8 11 Hispanic 13% 21 27 28 11 Public School Teachers 12% 10 15 23 40
a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
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8d. A proposal has been made that would give low-income families with children in public schools a wider choice, by allowing them to enroll their children in private schools instead, with government helping to pay the tuition. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?
National 14% 26 27 15 19 White 10% 22 27 18 23 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 21% 44 24 4 7 Hispanic 23% 24 22 11 20 Public School Teachers 4% 22 9 28 37
a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
Tax Credits (Experiment with 2 conditions)
9a. A proposal has been made to offer a tax credit for educational expenses (fees, supplies, computers, and tuition) to low- and moderate-income parents who send their children to public and private schools. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?
National 22% 38 24 9 6 White 18% 39 26 9 7 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 33% 36 21 7 2 Hispanic 32% 32 21 8 7 Public School Teachers 19% 38 18 15 10
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
9b. A proposal has been made to offer a tax credit for individual and corporate donations that pay for scholarships to help low-income parents send their children to private schools. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?
National 15% 31 27 11 16 White 9% 33 24 13 21 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 35% 32 30 1 3 Hispanic 22% 25 34 13 7 Public School Teachers 18% 30 17 14 21
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
School Spending
School Spending (Experiment with 2 conditions)
10a. Do you think that government funding for public schools in your district should increase, decrease, or stay about the same?
National 9% 37 46 7 2 White 5% 34 52 8 1 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 21% 61 17 1 0 Hispanic 15% 41 39 5 * Public School Teachers 16% 39 40 3 1
a) Greatly increase b) Increase c) Stay about the same d) Decrease e) Greatly decrease
10b*. According to the most recent information available, in your district [amount] is being spent each year per child attending public schools. Do you think that government funding for public schools in your district should increase, decrease, or stay about the same?
Racial/Ethnic Identity National White African American Hispanic a) Greatly increase 7% 6% 14% 7% b) Increase 31 28 34 36 c) Stay about the same 53 55 50 45 d) Decrease 8 9 2 9 e) Greatly decrease 2 3 0 2 *Note: Each respondent was provided with the most recent available information on per pupil spending in his or her school district. Public School Teachers 16% 36 40 7 2
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2009 Survey
OPINION HOWELL, PETERSON, & WEST
11. If more money were spent on public schools in your district, how confident are you that students would learn more?
National 12% 41 33 13 White 8% 39 37 16 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 30% 47 19 3 Hispanic 19% 47 28 6 Public School Teachers 18% 49 23 10
a) Very confident b) Somewhat confident c) Not very confident d) Not confident at all
12*. Given the current economic climate, many budgets analysts expect that state and local governments will have to cut spending. As a percentage of their current budgets, in what two areas should the largest cuts should be made?
National 10% a) Medical services 10 b) Elementary and secondary education c) Colleges and universities 53 d) Police and prisons 30 77 e) Transportation f) Aid to the poor 23 *Note: Results sum to 200% because respondents selected two areas. White 8% 10 59 23 76 24 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 8% 9 35 46 83 19 Hispanic 17% 7 38 46 75 17 Public School Teachers 11% 4 48 27 78 31
Teacher Pay and Tenure
Teacher Salaries (Experiment with 2 conditions)
13. Do you think that teacher salaries in your state should increase, decrease, or stay about the same?
National 11% 45 40 4 0 White 9% 42 45 5 0 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 20% 55 25 1 * Hispanic 15% 56 26 3 * Public School Teachers 29% 48 19 2 2
a) Greatly increase b) Increase c) Stay about the same d) Decrease e) Greatly decrease
14*. In your state, teachers are paid an average annual salary of [amount]. Do you think that these teacher salaries should increase, decrease, or stay about the same?
Racial/Ethnic Identity National White African American Hispanic a) Greatly increase 8% 5% 21% 13% b) Increase 32 32 36 37 c) Stay about the same 53 56 39 45 d) Decrease 5 7 1 2 e) Greatly decrease 1 1 2 3 *Note: Each respondent was provided with the latest available information on average teacher salaries in his or her state. Public School Teachers 26% 45 26 1 2
Merit Pay (Experiment with 3 conditions)
15a. Do you favor or oppose basing a teacher’s salary, in part, on his or her students’ academic progress on state tests?
National 13% 30 30 15 12 White 14% 31 26 15 15 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 12% 20 44 15 9 Hispanic 12% 39 33 10 6 Public School Teachers 0% 12 18 27 43
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
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15b. President Barack Obama has expressed support for the policy of basing teachers’ salaries, in part, on their students’ academic progress on tests? What do you think of this policy?
National 16% 40 22 13 8 White 13% 43 21 13 11 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 26% 29 29 16 1 Hispanic 26% 29 31 12 2 Public School Teachers 6% 25 8 21 40
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
15c. A recent study presents evidence that students learn more when their teachers are paid, in part, according to their academic progress on tests? What do you think of this policy?
National 14% 35 28 11 12 White 10% 40 25 12 13 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 34% 26 33 4 3 Hispanic 14% 24 35 13 14 Public School Teachers 4% 14 13 29 40
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
Teacher Tenure
16. Teachers with tenure cannot be dismissed unless a school district follows detailed procedures. Some say that tenure protects teachers from being fired for arbitrary reasons. Others say that it makes it too difficult to replace ineffective teachers. We want to know what you think of tenure. Do you favor or oppose offering tenure to teachers?
National 6% 19 30 30 15 White 4% 19 26 35 17 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 15% 24 41 16 4 Hispanic 10% 18 44 21 8 Public School Teachers 20% 33 16 23 8
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
17. Some have proposed offering teachers a higher salary in exchange for giving up tenure. What do you think of this proposal?
National 6% 24 47 12 11 White 4% 25 46 14 12 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 7% 29 53 7 4 Hispanic 12% 17 52 11 8 Public School Teachers 9% 24 32 19 17
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
18. Another proposal has been made that would require teachers to demonstrate that their students are making adequate progress on state tests in order to receive tenure. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?
National 13% 38 29 12 8 White 11% 39 28 13 10 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 15% 39 33 11 2 Hispanic 20% 34 35 6 4 Public School Teachers 5% 19 18 24 34
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
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2009 Survey
OPINION HOWELL, PETERSON, & WEST
Virtual, Home, and Single-Sex Schooling
Virtual Schooling (Experiment with 2 conditions)
19a. A proposal has been made to allow middle school students to receive credit for state-approved courses taken entirely over the internet. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?
National 8% 27 30 21 13 White 6% 29 27 24 15 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 13% 27 37 16 7 Hispanic 20% 20 33 14 12 Public School Teachers 6% 22 23 27 22
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
19b. A proposal has been made to allow high school students to receive credit for state-approved courses taken entirely over the internet. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?
National 14% 28 28 19 10 White 12% 29 26 22 11 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 25% 19 37 14 5 Hispanic 16% 29 33 11 10 Public School Teachers 14% 31 19 21 17
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
Virtual Schooling (Experiment with 3 conditions)
20a. Would you be willing to have a child of yours go through high school taking some academic courses over the internet?
National 17% 34 22 16 11 White 17% 36 22 16 9 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 18% 33 18 14 17 Hispanic 18% 32 27 16 7 Public School Teachers 15% 38 8 20 20
a) Very willing b) Somewhat willing c) Neither willing nor unwilling d) Somewhat unwilling e) Very unwilling
20b. Would you be willing to have a child of yours go through high school taking most academic courses over the internet?
National 7% 21 19 26 27 White 5% 21 16 29 29 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 6% 16 28 26 24 Hispanic 14% 27 26 13 20 Public School Teachers 8% 20 9 19 44
a) Very willing b) Somewhat willing c) Neither willing nor unwilling d) Somewhat unwilling e) Very unwilling
20c. Would you be willing to have a child of yours go through high school taking some elective courses over the internet?
National 19% 33 21 14 12 White 17% 35 20 15 13 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 24% 28 24 18 6 Hispanic 15% 25 31 11 18 Public School Teachers 17% 48 12 16 8
a) Very willing b) Somewhat willing c) Neither willing nor unwilling d) Somewhat unwilling e) Very unwilling
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21. Do you know any students who have taken a course entirely over the internet for middle or high school credit?
National 8% 92 White 8% 92 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 8% 92 Hispanic 9% 91 Public School Teachers 26% 74
a) Yes b) No
Home Schooling
22. Rather than send them to a school, some parents prefer to educate their children at home. Do you know any family that currently home schools its child?
National 38% 62 White 44% 56 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 19% 81 Hispanic 26% 74 Public School Teachers 61% 39
a) Yes b) No
Single-Sex Schooling
23. Some people have proposed that public school districts offer parents the option of sending their child to an all-boys or all-girls school? What do you think about this proposal?
National 12% 22 36 15 14 White 12% 22 36 16 15 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 16% 20 43 12 10 Hispanic 12% 27 35 14 13 Public School Teachers 17% 28 28 16 12
a) Completely support b) Somewhat support c) Neither support nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
24. Would you consider sending your own child to an all-boys or all-girls school?
National 15% 30 35 21 White 14% 29 36 21 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 15% 34 34 18 Hispanic 17% 32 26 25 Public School Teachers 19% 32 29 21
a) Definitely would consider b) Probably would consider c) Probably would not consider d) Definitely would not consider
School Governance
Mayoral Control (Experiment with 2 conditions)
25a. In some communities that have a large percentage of low-performing public school students, the mayors have taken control over the entire public school system to attempt to correct the situation. If the public schools in your community had a large percentage of low-performing students, would you favor or oppose having the mayor take control over the schools?
National 10% 22 32 20 16 White 7% 23 30 21 18 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 11% 23 38 18 10 Hispanic 17% 16 32 15 19 Public School Teachers 6% 11 22 21 40
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
25b. Would you favor or oppose having the mayor take control over the public schools in your community?
National 3% 7 34 22 34 White 2% 7 30 23 38 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 5% 9 43 19 23 Hispanic 6% 9 48 16 21 Public School Teachers 0% 4 21 27 48
a) Completely favor b) Somewhat favor c) Neither favor nor oppose d) Somewhat oppose e) Completely oppose
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2009 Survey
OPINION HOWELL, PETERSON, & WEST
School Board Elections
26. To the best of your knowledge, are members of your local school board elected or appointed by another public official such as a mayor?
National 81% 19 White 85% 15 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 71% 29 Hispanic 75% 25 Public School Teachers 90% 10
a) Elected b) Appointed
27*. Many school board elections are held at a time different from other elections; and very little information is easily available about the candidates in most school board elections. As a result, only a small fraction of the American public tends to vote in these elections. Do you remember for sure whether you voted in the last school board election?
National a) Voted 38% b) Did not vote 35 c) Ineligible 3 d) Don’t know, can’t remember 24 *Note: Limited to respondents who answered “Elected” to question 27. White 41% 33 2 23 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 31% 39 1 29 Hispanic 28% 38 5 28 Public School Teachers 59% 26 2 12
Teacher Unions
28. Some people say that teacher unions are a stumbling block to school reform? Others say that unions fight for better schools and better teachers. What do you think? Do you think teacher unions have a generally positive effect on the schools in your community, or do you think they have a generally negative effect?
National 7% 21 42 20 11 White 6% 19 38 23 14 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 13% 29 49 8 1 Hispanic 10% 20 53 12 5 Public School Teachers 17% 31 28 17 7
a) Completely positive b) Somewhat positive c) Neither positive nor negative d) Somewhat negative e) Completely negative
Attention to Education
29. How much attention do you pay to issues involving education?
National 14% 24 42 16 5 White 11% 24 45 16 4 Racial/Ethnic Identity African American 29% 22 30 14 4 Hispanic 16% 26 37 17 5 Public School Teachers 59% 26 10 4 1
a) A great deal b) Quite a bit c) Some d) Very little e) None
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