Public Pulse

According to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, 70 percent of parents surveyed were “very concerned” about how they would pay for college; only 6 percent were not concerned.

-95% of Americans believe smaller class sizes would be effective in attracting and retaining teachers, and 87% believe higher salaries for beginning teachers would accomplish the same. (Gallup, September 2007)

-A plurality (40%) had an unfavorable view of No Child Left Behind in 2007, up from 13% in 2003.(Gallup, September 2007)

-52% of public school parents said in 2007 there is too much emphasis on testing, up from 32% in 2002. (Only 43% of all adults agree there is too much emphasis, up from 31%.) (Gallup, September 2007)

-Only one-third of public school parents say NCLB is helping their schools, with the rest saying it is hurting or making no difference. (Gallup, September 2007)

-Only one-third of public school parents say the “increase in testing” is helping their schools, with the rest saying it is hurting or making no difference. (Gallup, September 2007)

-79% say: “The government – local, state or federal – should be responsible for funding preschool education for all children in the U.S.”17 (Harris Interactive, May 2007)

-72% support reform of the public school system, versus only 26% who want an alternative to public schools.18 (Gallup, September 2007)

-Only 31% support “contract[ing] with private profit-making corporations” to run their public schools.19 (Gallup, September 2007)

-Only 39% support letting families “choose a private school to attend at public expense,” down from a high of 46% in 2002.20 (Gallup, September 2007)

-The public is split on allowing families to choose a public, private or religious school with “the government [paying] part of the tuition.” 51% support, including 61% of public school parents.21 (Gallup, September 2007)

• 72% of voters believed that “our newly elected public officials in Congress should increase funding for after-school programs.

• 69% of voters said they want increased funding for after-school programs – even if it meant an increase in taxes.

• 65% of voters said after-school programs are an absolute necessity for their community.

• 21% of Americans identify a lack of financial support as one of the “biggest problems the public schools must deal with in their community.”

• This problem has been among the top problems mentioned for 17 straight years and has been the top problem for eight years running. This year, it attracts over twice the number of mentions of any other problem, including discipline (10%) and overcrowding (7%).

• 41% of Americans believe the “No Child Left Behind” program is making no difference in local public schools and 27% believe it hurting those same schools.

• Only 26% believe it is helping the local public schools.

67% of Americans believe the government should have more involvement in education, only 29% believe less governmental involvement is needed.

33% of Americans strongly disapprove of the governments handling of education, only 13% strongly approve of their handling.

A survey by the American Association of University Professors finds 81 percent of Americans say that the high cost of tuition is a “very serious problem” and 42 percent believed “the high cost of college” was the “biggest problem facing higher education.