No matter which candidate is elected president Nov. 3rd 2020, college students have definite
ideas about what areas the new administration should focus on early in its
term. Seventy-percent of the respondents to a recent survey of college students
rated the economy the highest when asked how much focus the new president
should place on a number of issues. This was followed by healthcare (60%),
education (57%), and alternative sources of energy (52%). Americans place quality education at the top of their
list of priorities, and they want their elected leaders to do the same.
According to a national public opinion poll education is a hot-button issue:
Americans want their elected leaders to produce results, not rhetoric. They
also want leaders who will make education funding recession proof. The poll
shows that Americans oppose any cuts to education funding, even at the cost of
deep cuts to other services they deem essential—services such as healthcare,
Social Security, law enforcement, and roads and transportation. When asked to
name one or two priorities that government should shield from spending cuts, 53
percent of Americans cite education and
schools. That percentage equals the combined total of all other responses,
including healthcare (18 percent), law enforcement (8 percent), Social Security
(6 percent), and the military (2 percent). All major demographic categories —
including senior citizens — support education funding over every other spending
priority. Americans, however, recognize that in the current economic climate
there will be little or no new funding for education, especially at the state
level. Nearly two-fifths (38 percent) of Americans would make early childhood education either their
first or second choice to protect from budget cuts, followed by reduced class
size (35 percent), teacher training (32 percent), and teacher pay (25 percent).
ideas about what areas the new administration should focus on early in its
term. Seventy-percent of the respondents to a recent survey of college students
rated the economy the highest when asked how much focus the new president
should place on a number of issues. This was followed by healthcare (60%),
education (57%), and alternative sources of energy (52%). Americans place quality education at the top of their
list of priorities, and they want their elected leaders to do the same.
According to a national public opinion poll education is a hot-button issue:
Americans want their elected leaders to produce results, not rhetoric. They
also want leaders who will make education funding recession proof. The poll
shows that Americans oppose any cuts to education funding, even at the cost of
deep cuts to other services they deem essential—services such as healthcare,
Social Security, law enforcement, and roads and transportation. When asked to
name one or two priorities that government should shield from spending cuts, 53
percent of Americans cite education and
schools. That percentage equals the combined total of all other responses,
including healthcare (18 percent), law enforcement (8 percent), Social Security
(6 percent), and the military (2 percent). All major demographic categories —
including senior citizens — support education funding over every other spending
priority. Americans, however, recognize that in the current economic climate
there will be little or no new funding for education, especially at the state
level. Nearly two-fifths (38 percent) of Americans would make early childhood education either their
first or second choice to protect from budget cuts, followed by reduced class
size (35 percent), teacher training (32 percent), and teacher pay (25 percent).
Education ranks second only to the economy and
jobs on the public's list of most serious concerns, even outranking terrorism
and security. Americans believe that quality
education for all is a national priority. More than 4 out of 5 (85 percent)
say achieving this goal is personally important to them, and more than 9 out of
10 (92 percent) Americans say that providing all children with a quality
education is an attainable goal, not a pipe dream. Americans care about school quality for practical reasons
and out of concern for their community. They believe that quality public
schools build stronger families (24 percent), improve the local economy (20
percent), and reduce crime rates (15 percent). Some 42 percent of Americans say
their decisions about where to live were influenced by the quality of schools
in the community. We have made a national commitment to hold every student and
every school accountable for measurable improvements in learning. Today it
seems all political candidates — whether vying for an office in city hall, a
seat in the state legislature, or a chance to go to Washington — claim to be education candidates. But the public
has very clear ideas on what education candidates should be doing and how
elected officials will be held accountable. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of
Americans say a candidate's stance on education is either one of the most
important factors or a very important factor influencing their vote. Even 59
percent of those without school-age children agree. Americans feel much more
favorably toward candidates who believe that education decisions are best made
by parents, teachers, and principals (88 percent); who understand education
issues (87 percent); who will protect education from budget cuts (86 percent);
and who want education to focus on the
basics (86 percent). In contrast, Americans are far less likely to favor
candidates who suggest visionary programs without first explaining how they
intend to fund and implement them (40 percent), who support vouchers (39
percent), or who favor giving mayors or city councils direct control over
schools (38 percent). Americans have strikingly consistent views about how to
improve public education nationwide. In each of the past two polls, nearly
one-third of survey participants (29 percent) rated teacher quality as the most important factor in improving student learning, with equalized
funding between rich and poor schools as the second most important factor (16 percent).
In this year's poll, 15 percent of Americans also cite quality early childhood education for all children as an important
factor in improving student learning, 12 percent say reduced class size, and
another 12 percent want all children to be able to read by the fourth grade.
However, a scant 5 percent believe that using taxpayer money for private school
options will improve the quality of
education. One reason Americans support quality teaching is that many are
teachers or know teachers. Three out of 10 Americans (29 percent) are teachers
or have close family members who are current or former teachers. Survey results
indicate this "teacher" group could be a powerful voting bloc; nearly
three-quarters say that a politician's education platform plays a major role in
their voting choices. In comparison, approximately two-thirds of all Americans
say education plays a major role in their voting choices. When it comes to
assessing school performance, voters value information on teacher quality (76
percent) and student literacy (74 percent) the most, followed by information about books and
other learning tools (74 percent), school budgets (67 percent), comparisons of local schools
to other schools in the state (66 percent), and data on school safety (63
percent).
jobs on the public's list of most serious concerns, even outranking terrorism
and security. Americans believe that quality
education for all is a national priority. More than 4 out of 5 (85 percent)
say achieving this goal is personally important to them, and more than 9 out of
10 (92 percent) Americans say that providing all children with a quality
education is an attainable goal, not a pipe dream. Americans care about school quality for practical reasons
and out of concern for their community. They believe that quality public
schools build stronger families (24 percent), improve the local economy (20
percent), and reduce crime rates (15 percent). Some 42 percent of Americans say
their decisions about where to live were influenced by the quality of schools
in the community. We have made a national commitment to hold every student and
every school accountable for measurable improvements in learning. Today it
seems all political candidates — whether vying for an office in city hall, a
seat in the state legislature, or a chance to go to Washington — claim to be education candidates. But the public
has very clear ideas on what education candidates should be doing and how
elected officials will be held accountable. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of
Americans say a candidate's stance on education is either one of the most
important factors or a very important factor influencing their vote. Even 59
percent of those without school-age children agree. Americans feel much more
favorably toward candidates who believe that education decisions are best made
by parents, teachers, and principals (88 percent); who understand education
issues (87 percent); who will protect education from budget cuts (86 percent);
and who want education to focus on the
basics (86 percent). In contrast, Americans are far less likely to favor
candidates who suggest visionary programs without first explaining how they
intend to fund and implement them (40 percent), who support vouchers (39
percent), or who favor giving mayors or city councils direct control over
schools (38 percent). Americans have strikingly consistent views about how to
improve public education nationwide. In each of the past two polls, nearly
one-third of survey participants (29 percent) rated teacher quality as the most important factor in improving student learning, with equalized
funding between rich and poor schools as the second most important factor (16 percent).
In this year's poll, 15 percent of Americans also cite quality early childhood education for all children as an important
factor in improving student learning, 12 percent say reduced class size, and
another 12 percent want all children to be able to read by the fourth grade.
However, a scant 5 percent believe that using taxpayer money for private school
options will improve the quality of
education. One reason Americans support quality teaching is that many are
teachers or know teachers. Three out of 10 Americans (29 percent) are teachers
or have close family members who are current or former teachers. Survey results
indicate this "teacher" group could be a powerful voting bloc; nearly
three-quarters say that a politician's education platform plays a major role in
their voting choices. In comparison, approximately two-thirds of all Americans
say education plays a major role in their voting choices. When it comes to
assessing school performance, voters value information on teacher quality (76
percent) and student literacy (74 percent) the most, followed by information about books and
other learning tools (74 percent), school budgets (67 percent), comparisons of local schools
to other schools in the state (66 percent), and data on school safety (63
percent).
Other survey findings:
- While the
college students surveyed rely on a wide range of sources for information on
the candidates, by far the most popular are television (83% of students) and
Internet news sites (73%). However, college students believe the most reliable
source of information is found on a political candidate's own web site (26%),
followed by television (23%).
college students surveyed rely on a wide range of sources for information on
the candidates, by far the most popular are television (83% of students) and
Internet news sites (73%). However, college students believe the most reliable
source of information is found on a political candidate's own web site (26%),
followed by television (23%).
- Direct
mailings (12%) and blogs (10%) were the least used.
mailings (12%) and blogs (10%) were the least used.
- 88% of the
eligible voters surveyed say they intend to vote in the upcoming presidential
election.
eligible voters surveyed say they intend to vote in the upcoming presidential
election.
The national
public opinion poll is based on a survey of 1,050 voting-age Americans. It
includes analysis of a base of 800 voters and an oversample of 125 registered
African-American voters and 125 registered Latino voters. It also includes
information from three focus groups of whites, African Americans, and Latinos,
with and without children. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.
public opinion poll is based on a survey of 1,050 voting-age Americans. It
includes analysis of a base of 800 voters and an oversample of 125 registered
African-American voters and 125 registered Latino voters. It also includes
information from three focus groups of whites, African Americans, and Latinos,
with and without children. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.
Megan
Wilson is a
teacher, life strategist, successful entrepreneur, inspirational keynote
speaker and founder of https://Ebookscheaper.com.
Megan champions a radical rethink of our school systems; she calls on educators
to teach both intuition and logic to cultivate creativity and create bold
thinkers.
Wilson is a
teacher, life strategist, successful entrepreneur, inspirational keynote
speaker and founder of https://Ebookscheaper.com.
Megan champions a radical rethink of our school systems; she calls on educators
to teach both intuition and logic to cultivate creativity and create bold
thinkers.
