Gallup's Pulse of Democracy
Education
|
Guidance for Lawmakers
|
- The American people, in a broad sense, coalesce on four major areas of focus when asked how they would go about improving the quality of high school education: improving the quality of teaching, modifying the curriculum to focus more on basics, providing more money to schools, and making high schools safer.
- At the same time, the American people do not appear to be interested in massive federal mandates to control education. There is a real question in Americans' minds as to whether the federal government should be involved at all in trying to fix public schools. Americans want control of what is being taught in public schools to be at the local school board level, not at the state and federal level.
- There is no evidence that the American public considers the massive federal government attempt to control education -- No Child Left Behind -- to be a success. More than half of Americans are unfamiliar with NCLB. Those who are familiar are just as likely to believe that the program has hurt public schools as believe that it has helped. Still, Americans are not opposed to standardized tests per se.
- If there is one single approach that Americans agree on to fix the nation's high schools, it would be to provide more and better teachers.
- In terms of "smaller" programs, Americans favor charter schools, extending the school day, and more and better preschool programs.
- The majority of Americans are unsure of their position on the controversial issue of school vouchers.
- Americans are sympathetic to the idea of using schools as a social tool to help solve problems between members of different racial groups.
- Americans with higher incomes are concerned about the cost of college education, to the point at which it appears at the top of the list when they are asked to name their family's top financial problem.
- Americans in general strongly approve of the federal government lowering the interest rates on college loans.
|
|
Fine Print
|
The key issue for federal government involvement in improving education in public schools is the lingering doubt among Americans that the federal government should be involved at all.
|
|
Context
|
Just 29% of American adults have children in grades K-12, and of those, almost one in five don't attend public schools, but rather attend private or parochial schools or are home-schooled. The majority of Americans therefore are not currently or directly involved in schools.
Few Americans mention education spontaneously as the top problem facing the nation today. Education, however, is an issue that has fundamental or basic importance to Americans, and it appears near the top when it is included in lists of issues to be prioritized.
Americans are much more positive when asked about the quality of education their children receive in their local communities, than when asked about the quality of education across the country.
Books such as The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman have underscored how important education can be, particularly in the sciences and engineering, but there is little data to show that Americans' views on education have changed dramatically.
|
|
Urgency: Overall Importance as Political Issue
|
This is a sleeper issue politically. Few Americans name education as an important problem facing the nation. Only 4% say education should be the top priority for Congress and the administration. But education pops up near the top of lists when it is named for Americans. One key concern for lawmakers is the extent to which the public does or does not want the federal government involved in "fixing" education.
|
|
Key Subgroup Differences
|
There is relatively little partisan variation in the perceived seriousness of the education problem in this country, nor is there much difference by the more typical demographic variables such as age, gender, or region.
|
|
The Bottom Line
|
Education is a basic or fundamental issue for most Americans, not highly top of mind, but of bedrock importance when it is included in a list of issues on which government should focus. Americans agree that there are major problems with education nationally, but are more positive about the state of schools in their local areas. Americans believe that public school decisions should be made on the local level and are wary of federal government involvement.
The majority of Americans are unaware of the massive No Child Left Behind program, and those who are familiar with it are as likely to feel NCLB has hurt as feel that it has helped the public schools. Americans focus on improving the quality of teaching as the top way to improve schools, along with increasing funding, returning to a more basic curriculum, and keeping schools safe. The majority of Americans don't have an opinion on the issue of vouchers. The cost of college has become a top concern to families with higher incomes. Americans strongly favor attempts to lower interest rates on college loans.
|
Thinking about your oldest child, when he or she is at school, do you fear for his or her physical safety?
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of education students receive in kindergarten through grade twelve in the U.S. today -- would you say you are completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely dissatisfied?
|
Completely satisfied
|
Somewhat satisfied
|
Somewhat dissatisfied
|
Completely dissatisfied
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
7
|
39
|
35
|
16
|
3
|
|
2006 Aug 7-10
|
8
|
37
|
33
|
19
|
3
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
9
|
37
|
35
|
16
|
3
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
10
|
43
|
32
|
13
|
2
|
|
2003 Aug 4-6
|
8
|
40
|
34
|
16
|
2
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8
|
7
|
40
|
32
|
18
|
3
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
10
|
38
|
32
|
17
|
3
|
|
2000 Aug 24-27
|
7
|
29
|
40
|
21
|
3
|
|
1999 Aug 24-26
|
8
|
39
|
38
|
13
|
2
|
Do you have any children who will be attending school in kindergarten through grade 12 this year?
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
33
|
67
|
*
|
Thinking about your oldest child in kindergarten through grade twelve, what grade will he or she be entering this fall?
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
|
Kindergarten-Fifth
|
Sixth-Eighth
|
Ninth-Twelfth
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
29
|
23
|
47
|
1
|
|
2006 Aug 7-10
|
39
|
21
|
39
|
1
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
38
|
22
|
40
|
--
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
38
|
21
|
40
|
1
|
|
2003 Aug 4-6
|
40
|
18
|
42
|
--
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8
|
40
|
23
|
36
|
1
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
38
|
20
|
41
|
1
|
|
1999 Aug 24-26
|
44
|
25
|
30
|
1
|
Will your oldest child attend public, private, parochial or home school this year?
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
|
Public
|
Private
|
Parochial
|
Home School
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
86
|
8
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
2006 Aug 7-10
|
82
|
13
|
3
|
2
|
*
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
85
|
10
|
3
|
2
|
--
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
86
|
7
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
|
2003 Aug 4-6
|
85
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8
|
89
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
*
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
88
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
--
|
|
2000 Aug 24-27 ^
|
86
|
9
|
4
|
1
|
*
|
|
1999 Aug 24-26 ^
|
86
|
10
|
4
|
*
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
|
WORDING: Will that child attend public, private or parochial school?
|
How satisfied are you with the quality of education your oldest child is receiving? Would you say you are completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely dissatisfied?
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
|
Completely satisfied
|
Somewhat satisfied
|
Somewhat dissatisfied
|
Completely dissatisfied
|
Just starting school (vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
5
|
%
|
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
25
|
53
|
13
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
|
2006 Aug 7-10
|
35
|
42
|
12
|
7
|
3
|
1
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
33
|
45
|
13
|
7
|
2
|
*
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
32
|
47
|
15
|
4
|
2
|
*
|
|
2003 Aug 4-6
|
38
|
39
|
13
|
8
|
2
|
*
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8
|
29
|
39
|
20
|
7
|
4
|
1
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
35
|
37
|
14
|
9
|
3
|
2
|
|
2000 Aug 24-27
|
31
|
47
|
12
|
6
|
4
|
*
|
|
1999 Aug 24-26
|
37
|
46
|
12
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
Thinking about your oldest child, when he or she is at school, do you fear for his or her physical safety?
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
|
Yes, fear
|
No, do not
|
No opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
24
|
76
|
*
|
|
2006 Oct 6-8
|
35
|
65
|
--
|
|
2006 Aug 7-10
|
25
|
75
|
*
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
21
|
79
|
*
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
28
|
71
|
1
|
|
2003 Aug 4-6
|
24
|
76
|
*
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8
|
31
|
68
|
1
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
32
|
68
|
0
|
|
2001 Mar 9-11
|
45
|
54
|
1
|
|
2000 Aug 24-27
|
26
|
74
|
0
|
|
2000 Apr 7-9
|
43
|
57
|
0
|
|
1999 Aug 24-26
|
47
|
53
|
*
|
|
1999 May 21-23
|
52
|
47
|
1
|
|
1999 Apr 26-27
|
49
|
51
|
*
|
|
1999 Apr 21
|
55
|
45
|
0
|
|
1998 Jun 5-7
|
37
|
62
|
1
|
|
1977 ^
|
24
|
70
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
|
Gallup for Kettering Foundation.
|
Have any of your school-aged children expressed any worry or concern about feeling unsafe at their school when they go back to school this fall?
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
12
|
87
|
1
|
|
2006 Oct 6-8
|
12
|
88
|
--
|
|
2006 Aug 7-10
|
11
|
87
|
2
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
10
|
89
|
1
|
|
2003 Aug 4-6
|
8
|
91
|
1
|
|
2001 Mar 9-11 ^
|
22
|
77
|
1
|
|
2000 Aug 24-27
|
8
|
92
|
*
|
|
1999 Aug 24-26
|
18
|
82
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
|
WORDING: Have any of your school-aged children expressed any worry or concern about feeling unsafe at their school when they go to school?
|
Just your opinion, what would be the best way to improve the education your oldest child receives at his or her school? [OPEN-ENDED]
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
|
2007 Aug 13-16
|
|
%
|
|
Reduce number of children per classroom
|
13
|
|
Quality teachers/better educated/more involved/caring
|
11
|
|
More teacher involvement/caring
|
9
|
|
Back to the basic curriculum/three R's
|
7
|
|
Improve school funding
|
6
|
|
Better pay for teachers
|
5
|
|
More parental involvement
|
5
|
|
More resources in the schools for teaching
|
4
|
|
Improve standards for testing
|
3
|
|
Hire more teachers
|
3
|
|
Teach more about real life/how to survive
|
2
|
|
Better discipline in schools
|
2
|
|
Better security/safer schools
|
2
|
|
Stop the government from running the schools/get rid of "No Child Left Behind"
|
1
|
|
Spend more time/hours in school
|
1
|
|
Year-round schooling
|
1
|
|
School vouchers
|
1
|
|
Get rid of teachers' unions/abolish the NEA
|
1
|
|
|
|
Other
|
8
|
|
Nothing
|
7
|
|
No opinion
|
8
|
Do you have any children who will be attending school in kindergarten through grade 12 this year?
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
2007 Aug 3-5
|
29%
|
71
|
*
|
(Asked of those who are parents of children in grades K-12) Generally speaking, would you describe the lunches served in the school that your oldest child attends as -- very nutritious, somewhat nutritious, not that nutritious, or not nutritious at all?
|
Very nutritious
|
Somewhat nutritious
|
Not that nutritious
|
Not nutritious
at all
|
No
opinion
|
|
2007 Aug 3-5
|
21%
|
42
|
17
|
10
|
11
|
(Asked of those who are parents of children in grades K-12)Thinking about the amount of foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads offered in your child's school, do you think the school is offering enough of these kinds of food, or should it offer more?
|
Offering enough
|
Should offer more
|
No opinion
|
|
2007 Aug 3-5
|
27%
|
66
|
8
|
(Asked of those who are parents of children in grades K-12)Do you think your child's school is offering too many foods that should not be served to children, or not?
|
Yes, too many
|
No, not
|
No opinion
|
|
2007 Aug 3-5
|
43%
|
48
|
8
|
(Asked of those who are parents of children in grades K-12)How much do you think school lunches are to blame for the problem of childhood obesity -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or not at all?
|
Great
deal
|
Moderate amount
|
Not
much
|
Not
at all
|
No
opinion
|
|
2007 Aug 3-5
|
9%
|
22
|
37
|
30
|
2
|
Now thinking about the school your oldest child attends, do you think there is too much emphasis, the right amount, or too little emphasis on [RANDOM ORDER]?
[ASKED OF K-12 PARENTS]
|
2005 Aug 8-11
(sorted by "too much")
|
Too much emphasis
|
Right amount
|
Too little emphasis
|
Not applicable (vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Sports
|
18
|
57
|
20
|
4
|
1
|
|
Preparing for standardized tests
|
18
|
52
|
24
|
3
|
3
|
|
Reading and English
|
5
|
66
|
28
|
*
|
1
|
|
Art and music
|
5
|
61
|
32
|
1
|
1
|
|
Sciences
|
5
|
60
|
31
|
2
|
2
|
|
Physical education
|
4
|
58
|
35
|
1
|
2
|
|
Foreign languages
|
4
|
42
|
46
|
6
|
2
|
|
Health
|
3
|
60
|
33
|
2
|
2
|
|
Composition or writing
|
3
|
60
|
35
|
*
|
2
|
|
Math
|
2
|
65
|
31
|
1
|
1
|
|
History
|
2
|
60
|
34
|
2
|
2
|
Please tell me whether you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools.
|
Favor
|
Oppose
|
No opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
76
|
23
|
1
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
78
|
20
|
2
|
|
2000 Sep 11-13 ^
|
74
|
23
|
3
|
|
1994 Nov 28-29 †
|
73
|
25
|
2
|
|
1983 Jul 22-25 ‡
|
81
|
14
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
^ Based on half sample.
|
|
† Wording: "Here are some other proposals the Republicans in Congress have made. For each one, please tell me whether you favor or oppose it. How about….a Constitutional amendment to allow voluntary school prayer in public schools."
|
|
‡ Based on 1,285 national adults who have heard or read about the proposal for a Constitutional amendment to allow voluntary school prayer in public schools.
|
If you had a choice, which would you prefer in the local public schools-[ROTATED: spoken prayer, (or) a moment of silence for contemplation or silent prayer]?
|
Spoken prayer
|
Moment of silence/ silent prayer
|
Neither (vol.)
|
Both
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
23%
|
69
|
5
|
3
|
*
|
|
1995 May 1-30 ^
|
24%
|
70
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
|
Gallup/PDK survey.
|
On a different subject, do you think each of the following explanations about the origin and development of life on earth should or should not be taught in public school science classes, or are you unsure? How about - [RANDOM ORDER]?
|
2005 Aug 8-11
(sorted by "yes, should")
|
Yes, should
|
No, should not
|
Unsure
|
No answer
|
|
Evolution
|
61%
|
20
|
19
|
*
|
|
Creationism
|
54%
|
22
|
23
|
1
|
|
Intelligent design
|
43%
|
21
|
35
|
1
|
How familiar are you the practice of granting tenure to public school teachers - very familiar, somewhat familiar, not too familiar, or not familiar at all?
|
Very familiar
|
Somewhat familiar
|
Not too familiar
|
Not familiar
at all
|
No
opinion
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
18%
|
32
|
19
|
30
|
1
|
Based on what you have heard or read, do you favor or oppose tenure laws for public school teachers?
|
Favor
|
Oppose
|
Unsure
|
No opinion
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
19%
|
22
|
58
|
1
|
Thinking about the presence that religion currently has in public schools in this country, do you think religion has - [ROTATED: too much of a presence in public schools, about the right amount, (or) too little of a presence in public schools]?
|
Too much
of a presence
|
About the
right amount
|
Too little
of a presence
|
No
opinion
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
11%
|
27
|
60
|
2
|
|
2001 Feb 9-11 ^
|
7%
|
28
|
63
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
|
Asked of a half sample.
|
Now thinking specifically about the school that your youngest school-aged child will attend, which of the following applies - it has a fully licensed nurse on site, it has a nurse's aide or other health care professional with more limited medical training on site, it has neither, or are you unsure?
BASED ON PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
|
Fully licensed nurse
|
Nurse's aide or other professional
|
Neither
|
Unsure
|
No
opinion
|
|
2005 Jul 22-24
|
36%
|
28
|
13
|
21
|
2
|
How important is it to you, personally, that this school has a fully licensed nurse on site - extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important?
BASED ON PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
|
Extremely important
|
Very important
|
Somewhat important
|
Not important
|
No
opinion
|
|
2005 Jul 22-24
|
35%
|
30
|
22
|
13
|
*
|
In all, how many children do you have that will be attending kindergarten through grade 12 this year?
[BASED ON -291-K-12 PARENTS]
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
|
%
|
%
|
|
1
|
46
|
44
|
|
2
|
33
|
38
|
|
3
|
13
|
10
|
|
4
|
3
|
5
|
|
5 or more
|
4
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
No opinion
|
1
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
Mean
|
1.9
|
1.9
|
|
Median
|
2
|
2
|
Thinking now more broadly about all your school aged children, do you have any children who will be attending -- [RANDOM ORDER]this year? How about -- [INSERT NEXT ITEM]?
[BASED ON -291-K-12 PARENTS]
A. A public school
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
87%
|
13
|
--
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
93%
|
7
|
--
|
B. A parochial, or church-related school
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
8%
|
92
|
--
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
9%
|
91
|
--
|
C. An independent private school
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
11%
|
89
|
--
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
7%
|
93
|
--
|
D. Home school, meaning not enrolled in a formal school, but taught at home
|
Yes
|
No
|
No opinion
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
3%
|
97
|
--
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
2%
|
98
|
--
|
How closely have you followed the news about school vouchers -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?
|
Very
closely
|
Somewhat closely
|
Not too closely
|
Not at all
|
No
opinion
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
12
|
32
|
29
|
26
|
1
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8
|
14%
|
35
|
26
|
24
|
1
|
From what you know or have heard, do you favor or oppose school vouchers, or do you not know enough to say?
|
Favor
|
Oppose
|
Unsure
|
No answer
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
22%
|
16
|
62
|
*
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8 ^
|
29%
|
15
|
56
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
|
Asked of a half sample.
|
