… A careful reading of the results of the 46th annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools confirms what the data suggested last year: A majority of Americans do not support public education initiatives that they believe were created by or promoted by federal policy makers.
For example: Over half of Americans (56%) say local school boards should have the greatest influence in deciding what is taught in the public schools. Most Americans (60%) oppose the Common Core State Standards, fearing that the standards will limit the flexibility of the teachers in their communities to teach what they think is best. …
These findings have serious consequences for this nation’s system of public education. Should the federal government reduce its involvement in public education and thus risk a reduced commitment to closing the well-documented achievement gap? Do local and state education leaders have the capacity and resources to transform America’s public schools — especially during a time of unprecedented social upheaval, political gridlock, and calls for reform? CONT.
Phi Delta Kappa International