PDK/Gallup Poll

Support for public schools up, for vouchers down

Public school advocates will find plenty of positives from today's (Aug. 22) release of the 2006 Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll on public attitudes toward public schools. But critics of public education won't be so pleased with the results.

For example:

Nearly six in 10 Americans familiar with No Child Left Behind believe the law has either had no effect on public schools or has actually harmed them.
Asked for a preference for improvement in public schools through changing the existing system or by finding an alternative, 71 percent expressed a preference for improving the current public education system, up from 69 percent in 2002. Support for switching to an alternative to public schools fell from 27 percent in 2002 to 24 percent this year.
Opposition to public funding for vouchers to private schools grew from 57 percent last year to 60 percent in 2006. Voucher support, which peaked at 46 percent in 2002, had fallen to 38 percent a year ago and is now at 36 percent.
While 53 percent of the respondents approve of charter schools (up from 42 percent in 2002), many people are confused about what charter schools are and how they operate. In the poll, 53 percent said charter schools are not public schools (in fact, they are); 50 percent believe charter schools are free to teach religion (not true); 60 percent believe charter schools may charge tuition (they cannot); and 58 percent say charters can base student selection on abilities (untrue).
Asked to identify the biggest problem facing public schools in their communities, respondents said:

National totals Public School Parents

06 05 04 06 05 04

Lack of funding 24% 20% 21% 21% 21% 20%

Overcrowding 13 11 10 16 15 13

Lack of discipline 11 10 10 7 8 8

Drugs 8 9 7 7 8 7

Pupil's lack of interest 6 >1 3 6 >1 2

Parents' lack of support 5 12 4 6 3 3

Violence 5 8 6 4 10 6

School board members should be aware of this poll question:

Who should have the greatest influence in deciding what is taught in public schools here -- the federal government, the state government or the local school board? (last asked in 1980)

National totals Public School Parents

2006 1980 2006 1980

Federal government 14% 9 15 8

State government 26 15 28 15

Local school boards 58 68 55 70

Other subject areas covered in this year's PDK/Gallup Poll include testing, the achievement gap, curriculum, teachers and teaching, time in school/homework, and multiple questions regarding the No Child Left Behind law.

Click here to view the full poll, a 16-page pdf document

Kentucky School Boards Association

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