Lowell C. Rose and Alec M. Gallup, Phi Delta Kappan and the Gallup Organization
August 20, 2003
Yesterday, Phi Delta Kappa and the Gallup Organization released the 35th edition of their annual poll. It offers some interesting data, including:
" Only a quarter of the public (and 22 percent of public-school parents) considers itself well informed about the No Child Left Behind act. And fewer than one in five has a favorable impression of it. (An assertion that some Republicans, including House Education and the Workforce Committee chairman John Boehner, have disputed, calling the poll's questions about and descriptions of NCLB biased.)
" In Gallup's words, "the public shows little support for the strategies that are an integral part of NCLB as it is being implemented." For example, just 15 percent of Americans think the federal government should "have the greatest influence in deciding what is taught in the public schools here" and about the same number favor gauging school performance based on student achievement in relation to a fixed standard. (Most prefer a "value added" approach.)
" On the other hand, 45 percent of those surveyed would like tutoring for a failing child to be provided by "an outside agency you would select from a state-approved list" versus "tutoring provided by teachers in child's school."
" Eighty percent of respondents are concerned (and half of these are concerned "a great deal") that NCLB's and states' emphases "on testing for English and math only to judge a school's performance will mean less emphasis on art, music, history, and other subjects."
" Not many people (16 percent, the lowest in 3 years) believe that the "achievement gap between white students and black and Hispanic students [is] mostly related to the quality of schooling received." Eighty percent attribute to "other factors" such as home and neighborhood. Yet 90 percent believe it's important to close these achievement gaps.
" Gallup has asked about vouchers in various ways over the years. In the most negative phrasing of the question, responses favoring vouchers this year were 38 percent - down from last year but up from 2001. On the other hand, a newly phrased question, citing the Supreme Court's Zelman decision and asking "do you favor or oppose your state making such vouchers available" elicited 42 percent in favor - including 46 percent of public-school parents. On a question asking people whether they think allowing children to move to private schools using vouchers would improve those children's academic achievement, 54 percent say yes. And on a question asking parents what they would do if their school-age child were given a full-tuition voucher, just 39 percent of public-school parents say they would send that child to a public school. Thirty-eight percent would opt for a church-related private school and 21 percent for another kind of private school.
You will most likely want to see the entire Gallup report, which you can find on the web at http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0309pol.pdf.
"Secretary Paige issues statement on Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll," press release from Department of Education, August 20, 2003
