Public Perceptions of College and Career Readiness in Education

College College- - and career and career- -ready graduates What the public thinks about standards, tests and the purpose of a public education ready graduates September 2016

Gauging Americans views on public education Gauging Americans views on public education American high schools were traditionally structured to prepare graduates for either college or jobs. But over the last two decades, the mission for public schools has shifted from an either/or approach to both/and. Most states have shown their commitment to this mission by adopting college- and career-ready (CCR) standards. Districts are now undertaking the hard work to implement them a job that can only succeed with the support of the community. Understanding where they stand in regard to the CCR agenda is the vital first step. In the following pages, we provide some insight by examining national public opinion polls on education. What we find is that the public often conflates the goal of college- and career- readiness with their views on the Common Core and standardized testing, clouding what could otherwise be strong support for CCR. School leaders looking to make the shift should query their own community so they can better understand their hopes and concerns. The questions that follow could be a good place to begin.

Americans differ over the main goal of public Americans differ over the main goal of public education education Percent of public 45 12 Question: What do you think should be the main goal of a public school education? 26 25 8 8 33 18 17 prepare students academically prepare them for work prepare them to be good citizens strongly somewhat SOURCE: PDK, 2016

But they show more agreement about what the But they show more agreement about what the content of that education should be content of that education should be Percent of public 90 85 82 82 76 38 Question: How important do you think it is for schools to prepare students 37 37 40 41 52 48 45 42 35 to think critically with factual information in each subject to be good citizens to work in groups with good work habits extremely very SOURCE: PDK, 2016

P Parents overwhelmingly see that todays high arents overwhelmingly see that today s high school graduates need a different preparation school graduates need a different preparation Percent of parents 62 Question: Compared to 20 years ago, what a student needs to learn in high school today is 34 4 very different somewhat different the same SOURCE: Achieve, Inc. 2015

Parents view real Parents view real- -world learning opportunities as world learning opportunities as a key part of preparing students for success a key part of preparing students for success Percent of parents real-world learning 50 Question: which 2 or 3 of these are most important to ensure that students are well- prepared for college or work? engaging curriculum 42 individual guidance 38 challenging standards 34 access to AP/IB 32 extra help for struggling students 29 communicate with parents 21 parent involvement 20 encourage highest math/science 15 SOURCE: Achieve, Inc. 2015

Most public school parents also support raising Most public school parents also support raising expectations for students expectations for students Percent of parents Question: what impact would [this] have on your child s preparedness for success at work or college after high school? 69 61 56 38 29 29 32 31 27 higher academic standards require 4 yrs math, including Alg II require biology, chemistry, physics help a great deal help some SOURCE: Achieve, Inc., 2015

Teachers rank critical thinking first among college Teachers rank critical thinking first among college- - and career and career- -ready characteristics ready characteristics Percent of teachers have critical thinking skills 78 Question: choose 3 items from list that you think are the most important for college- and career-readiness. ready for post-secondary courses without remediation 62 complete career program with work opportunity 59 have independent study skills 50 pass [college prep] sequence 41 score proficient on [CCR] test 8 SOURCE: CTA/Ed Source survey, 2015. Survey of California teachers.

Main takeaways Main takeaways There is no public consensus on public education s main goal. A plurality thinks it should be academic preparation, but there is strong support for preparing workers and good citizens, too. Even so, there s fairly strong agreement on the importance of high standards and expectations for students, regardless of their after high school goals. The public and educators place particular emphasis on critical thinking as important for today s graduates. The public, educators and parents further value real-world learning opportunities and high-level content.

Whats in a name? What s in a name? Common core vs. college- and career-ready branding yields different reactions

Support for Common Core has fallen from high to Support for Common Core has fallen from high to lukewarm in four years lukewarm in four years Percent of Question: States have been deciding whether to use the Common Core, standards that are the same across states. Do you support the use of the Common Core in your state? 90 87 50 44 general public teachers 2012 2016 SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

The idea of common standards doesnt lose The idea of common standards doesn t lose support as much as the name Common Core support as much as the name Common Core Percent of Question: States have been deciding whether to use standards that are the same across states. Do you support the use of these standards in your state? 92 67 66 50 general public teachers 2012 2016 SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

African Americans, Hispanics and Democrats are African Americans, Hispanics and Democrats are more likely to support Common Core standards more likely to support Common Core standards Percent of Question: States have been deciding whether to use the Common Core, standards that are the same across states. Do you support the use of the Common Core in your state? 12 13 19 22 24 23 32 48 53 29 54 48 46 39 35 African Americans Hispanics Whites Republicans Democrats support oppose neither SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

A majority of all groups support common A majority of all groups support common standards standards Percent of Question: States have been deciding whether to use standards that are the same across states. Do you support the use of these standards in your state? 13 13 18 23 33 32 24 34 19 12 58 58 54 54 52 African Americans Hispanics Whites Republicans Democrats support oppose neither SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

Misconceptions about Common Core are Misconceptions about Common Core are widespread and cross party lines widespread and cross party lines Percent saying yes 55 Question: Is this topic included in the Common Core? 48 47 46 45 44 43 43 41 41 40 37 Note: None of these topics appears in the standards. sex education evolution global warming American revolution Democrat Republican Independent SOURCE: Farleigh Dickinson University, Feb 2015 15

The more individuals had heard about Common The more individuals had heard about Common Core, the more likely they were to be wrong Core, the more likely they were to be wrong Percent who were right about all 4 topics 56 49 44 Question: How much have you heard about the Common Core? 26 25 18 a lot nothing Democrat Republican Independent SOURCE: Farleigh Dickinson University, Feb 2015 16

Parents have conflicting views about new Parents have conflicting views about new standards and their impact on students standards and their impact on students Percent of public school parents Questions: is the change in standards better or worse? 51 51 47 45 40 35 32 31 27 Have the new standards increased, decreased or had no effect on ? 21 8 new standards amount of learning academic challenge standardized testing better/increase worse/decrease no effect SOURCE: PDK, 2016 17

Main takeaways Main takeaways Support for the Common Core was once high, but has plummeted in the last four years, especially among teachers. Parents find the new standards more challenging, but aren t convinced the change is better. This suggests that problems with implementation and testing may be the issue. The Common Core has also become highly politicized, and support differs by race and party affiliation. Yet the public overall supports the idea of common standards across the states. Controversy about the Common Core won t necessarily spill over to college- and career-readiness as long as teachers and parents are on board with the change.

Public opinion and tests Public opinion and tests Ambivalence about the role of assessment in public schools

The public and parents support yearly testing; The public and parents support yearly testing; teachers, less so teachers, less so Percent of Question: do you support the federal government s requirement to test all students in math and reading in grades 3-8 and once in high school? 5 11 8 20 24 46 69 66 49 general public parents teachers support oppose neither SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

Support for testing is strongest among Hispanics Support for testing is strongest among Hispanics and Democrats and Democrats Percent of Question: do you support the federal government s requirement to test all students in math and reading in grades 3-8 and once in high school? 10 11 12 10 16 13 17 21 23 16 75 72 69 67 66 African American Hispanic White Republicans Democrats support oppose neither SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

The public does not support opting out of tests; The public does not support opting out of tests; parents and teachers aren t as sure parents and teachers aren t as sure Percent of Question: do you support letting parents decide whether to have their children take state math and reading tests? 8 15 13 52 49 60 39 37 26 general public parents teachers support oppose neither SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

Opinions on opt outs vary somewhat by race, Opinions on opt outs vary somewhat by race, but not by political affiliation but not by political affiliation Percent of Question: do you support letting parents decide whether to have their children take state math and reading tests? 14 14 15 13 22 54 60 62 47 63 32 31 27 25 23 African American Hispanic White Republicans Democrats support oppose neither SOURCE: Education Next, 2016

While the public sees a place for tests, most also While the public sees a place for tests, most also believe they receive too much emphasis believe they receive too much emphasis Percent of Question: is there too much emphasis on standardized testing in public schools, not enough emphasis, or about the right amount? 9 9 10 10 11 11 16 16 19 20 25 21 4 7 5 13 8 9 71 65 64 60 60 57 nation Afr.Am. Hisp. White Rep. Dem. too much emphasis not enough right amount don't know SOURCE: PDK/Gallup, 2015

Main takeaways Main takeaways Public opinion about college- and career-readiness seems to be conflated with feelings about standardized tests and the politics around Common Core. There is majority support for standardized testing, but most also think they are currently over-emphasized. Engaging the community s support for CCR depends on understanding their concerns and disentangling the goal from the tests so together you can focus on how to prepare all your students for success after high school.

References References Achieve, Inc., Rising to the challenge: Views on high school graduates preparedness, 2015. www.achieve.org Fairleigh Dickinson University, Public Mind Poll, Common Core Misconceptions, February 2015. http://publicmind.fdu.edu/2015/commoncore/ PDK Poll of the public s attitudes toward the public schools, September 2016, and Critical issues in public education: The 2016 Phi Delta Kappa Survey, Topline report, August 2016. http://pdkpoll2015.pdkintl.org/ Peterson, Paul, Henderson, West and Barrows, Ten-year trends in public opinion from the EdNext poll, August 2016 and Education Next, Program of education policy and governance, Survey 2016, www.educationnext.org The 47thannual PDK/Gallup poll of the public s attitudes toward the public schools, September 2015 http://pdkpoll2015.pdkintl.org/wp- content/uploads/2015/10/pdkpoll47_2015.pdf EdSource/CTE survey of teachers, September 2015. https://edsource.org/2015/college-and-career-readiness-an-edsourcecta-survey-of- teachers/88053