Education Law

“Americans Speak Out”

…is the title of the 41^st Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll released today about public attitudes toward public education.  What a difference a year (and a recession, a new President, a stimulus bill etc.) can make!  It’s a great read, and here are a few tidbits that BoardBuzz finds interesting:

• Lack of funding remains the biggest problem facing schools according to those surveyed, and the percentage ranking funding #1 jumped from 17% to 32% compared to last year.  Even with economic stimulus funding, Boardbuzz agrees that schools are struggling.  See NSBA’s Stimulus Resource Center for more info.
• Support for charter schools is on the rise.  Sixty-four percent favor charter schools, although the poll also shows that respondents often don’t know what they are supporting. While choice is good, recent research has suggested that students in charters perform no better or worse than other students. BoardBuzz believes that it is essential that charter schools have the proper oversight from a local school board and the accountability to ensure all students are getting a quality education.      
• Online education is increasing in popularity. While the majority (53%) still disapproves of offering high school credits online, the percentage who approve increased to 47% compared to 30% in 2001.
• Teaching is generating renewed respect.  Seventy percent of respondents said they would like a child of theirs to become a public school teacher.  At the same time, most also favor merit pay based on student achievement, evaluations and advanced degrees.
• Early education also has more support, with half saying that preschool programs should be offered in public schools.  The collaborative potential of early education and K-12 is described here.

 How would you answer the questions on the PDK/Gallup poll? See the questions and results here.  And be sure to check out NSBA’s statement on the poll and the School Board News online article.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on August 26, 2009 (boomark / email).