The results from the 6th annual Education Next survey have recently been released. Education Next is an education policy journal which, according to their website argues that “bold change is needed in American K–12 education” although they claim to partake “of no program, campaign, or ideology” and only to go “where the evidence points”. The survey was conducted in conjunction with the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University. The results of this recent survey coincide with the upcoming United States presidential election and are reflective of a focus on educational policy reform.
In terms of methodology, the surveyors randomly polled 2,993 adult American citizens. Half of those surveyed were asked questions that allowed only answers in the positive or negative, while the other half were surveyed using a range of five responses, including one of neutral. Furthermore, in order to highlight certain perspectives on education, the surveyors polled the following focus subgroups: public school teachers, parents of school-age children, African-Americans, and Hispanics.
The survey highlighted several key findings:
- In a year when many speculate that Independent voters will play a large part in determining the results of the election, the survey suggests that Independents lean toward more conservative perspectives on teachers unions, spending on education, and school choice initiatives.
- The results of the answers from Hispanic respondents also suggest that they care more about education in general than do whites or African-Americans and they also have a higher belief in the success of the American education system.
- As might be expected, the survey results posit that public support is high for test scores being used to evaluate teachers while teacher support for the same is quite low.
- Furthermore, in addition to an eroding support for teachers unions, even among teachers, the survey perhaps more surprisingly points out a generally lower confidence in teachers.
- When confronted with specific details of school funding, most respondents showed modest support for increased school funding, although before respondents were shown the details, support for increased school support was generally quite high.
- Finally, the majority of those polled showed support for various school choice initiatives, including vouchers, tax credits, charter schools, and online education.
The link to the article describing the survey results by William Howell, Paul E. Peterson and Martin West can be found here. Actual survey results can be found here.
