Public Opinion

More and more, the general public - including students, parents, teachers and administrators – as well as employers are speaking out on the importance of U.S. public education reform. With growing frequency, the public recognizes the need to improve high schools so that all graduates are adequately prepared for college and careers and the public sees the importance of remaining internationally competitive through innovation and creativity. Here is an overview of what the public believes to help you make the case for change with business leaders, educators, policymakers and the public.

Beyond the Three Rs: Voter Attitudes Towards 21st Century Skills
Partnership for 21st Century Skills, October 2007
In a poll of registered voters conducted for The Partnership for 21st Century Skills by Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Associates, a majority of voters expressed concerns about whether the nation’s schools are equipping students with the skills needed to compete in the 21st century global economy.  Less than 15% of respondents thought schools were doing an excellent job teaching reading comprehension and mathematics skills, and nearly 90% think schools should incorporate skills such as critical thinking and problem solving more explicitly into the curriculum to ensure the next generation of Americans enjoys the same economic competitiveness experienced by their parents and grandparents.

Business Coalition Leaders Speak Out on Education
DeHavilland Associates, June 2007
DeHavilland Associates, a consulting and communications firm that focuses on building education partnerships, polled the leaders of several hundred business coalitions in partnership with schools and school districts to learn what has worked and what lessons learned have arisen from their collaborations.  A large majority of business coalitions have selected partners based on their willingness to engage in a collaborative, results-oriented effort in which all stakeholders are committed to the project and willing to invest sufficient resources to reach shared goals.  Nearly 90% of coalitions surveyed were quite satisfied with their work, but emphasized the importance of an equal, shared commitment and clear, consistent communication among partners.

Community/School Partnerships: A National Survey
DeHavilland Associates, February 2007
DeHavilland Associates also conducted a survey of school administrators, board members, and other individuals in the education system who work with business and community partners to find these partnerships were structured and of what value they are to schools and districts. The survey found that, overwhelmingly, business partners were valued the most among existing and potential education partners and that most existing partnerships were developed through informal networking or by business and community leaders and groups taking the first step to approach administrators and schools.

Are They Really Ready to Work?
The Conference Board; Partnership for 21st Century Skills; Corporate Voices for Working Families; Society for Human Resource Management, October 2006
In an effort to better understand the skills employers want from their employees - and whether the employers are finding these skills in recent high school and college graduates - a coalition of organizations published a report based on results from an in-depth survey and series of interviews with human resource and other senior executives. A significant number of business leaders responded that high school graduates were deficient in the basic knowledge and skills of writing, math, and reading comprehensive, as well as critical thinking and problem solving and 40% of employers found high school graduates were not prepared for entry-level jobs, overall.

Education Reform: Insight into the Business Community's Views About the U.S. Education System
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, September 2006
The U.S. Chamber conducted a survey of 463 business organizations to determine how well business leaders think the U.S. education system is performing. More than half of respondents believe that schools need to raise the bar on achievement, through more rigorous curriculum and more effective assessments, to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive with other countries. Additionally, over 90% of business leaders think that school systems need some or a great deal of input from the business community when setting college- and work-ready standards.

Keeping Our Edge: Americans Speak on Education and Competitiveness
Education Testing Service, June 21, 2006
ETS commissioned Peter D. Hart Research Associates and the Winston Group to conduct a national survey of adults, parents, students, high school teachers and administrators, college faculty, and opinion leaders to find what each group thought about America's ability to maintain its competitive advantage in the global economy and the strengths and weaknesses of our education system. The American people recognize the important role that public schools play in contributing to our nation's achievements, but believe our schools must improve, particularly in dropout prevention and raising standards in math and science, for America to stay competitive.

Rising to the Challenge: Are High School Graduates Prepared for College and Work?
Achieve, Inc. February 2005
In this survey, high school graduates entering either college or the workforce, college professors and employers report that high school graduates are not prepared for college or work, did not feel challenged in high school, and would have worked harder if more was expected of them. Achieve worked with Peter D. Hart Research Associates to poll 861 high school graduates currently enrolled in college, 626 graduates not enrolled in college, 300 college professors and 400 employers. A PowerPoint summary also is available.

2005 Skills Gap Report - A Survey of America's Manufacturing Workforce
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), 2005
This report, based on an annual survey conducted for NAM, a trade association representing America's manufacturers, finds that over 80 percent of the 800 surveyed employers are experiencing difficulties hiring qualified workers. Another half of employers are dissatisfied with the skills of their current employees. Finding that employers believe these shortages directly impact their ability to meet customer needs, this report stresses the importance of science and math instruction at all levels of education, lifelong learning and training, measurable and more rigorous K-12 standards, and public-private partnerships that encourage education and workforce trend awareness.

Innovation and U.S. Competitiveness: Addressing the Talent Gap
Tapping America's Potential (TAP2015), 2005
After TAP released its initial report in July of 2005, the group wanted to know what Americans thought about the U.S.'s ability to sustain its scientific and technological superiority through this decade and beyond. The survey, of over 1,800 voters and 250 government, business, and non-profit opinion leaders, found that the majority of Americans are concerned about the U.S. losing its competitive edge in coming years and believe that improving U.S. science and technology capabilities is vital to staying competitive.