ESN Legislative Luncheon Policy Priorities and Polling Results Jana L Carlisle, Partnership for Learning 2013 POLICY PRIORITIES To realize college and career readiness for all students, Washington must: o Phase in basic education and fully fund recent reform bills (HB 2261 and 2776, and SB 6696 and 5895) o Enroll and support all students in career- and college-prep programs of study o Invest in policies and programs that advance student learning and hold districts accountable for student outcomes 3 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 ESN recommends prioritizing the following investments: o Full-day Kindergarten o 24-credit High School Diploma o Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) o Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) o Implementation of the Common Core Standards and Assessments o Adoption of Next Generation Science Standards o Implementation and Training for Educators on 4-Tiered Evaluation System o Mentoring Programs for Educators 4 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 POLL OVERVIEW Research Objectives o These surveys are part of an effort by the ESN Coalition to gather data about our mission to improve public K-12 education in Washington State. o These surveys were conducted by DHM Research to identify and evaluate voter and teacher attitudes toward issues including 24 credit hour diploma, common core standards and assessments, accountability, and funding. 6 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Research Design - Voters o o o o Telephone survey with 500 completed interviews Conducted January 2-8, 2013 Averaged 15 minutes in length Respondents randomly drawn from this list of registered voters o Quotas for age, gender, and geographic area for representative sample o Quality control measures, including monitoring interviews, callbacks, and validations o Margin of error at the 95% confidence level: o N=500: +/- 4.4% 7 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Research Design - Teachers o o o o o Telephone survey with 500 completed interviews Conducted December 27-29, 2012 Averaged 15 minutes in length Respondents randomly drawn from list of certified teachers Quotas for gender, geographic area, and certification level (primary, secondary, other) o Quality control measures, including monitoring interviews, callbacks, and validations o Margin of error at the 95% confidence level: o N=500: +/- 4.4% 8 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 GENERAL OPINIONS Overall, teachers are more optimistic than voters about the direction the public K-12 education system in Washington is heading. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 Direction of K-12 Education System in Washington Voters and Teachers 44% Right Direction 63% 34% Wrong Track 25% 22% Don't know Voters 12% 0% 10% Teachers 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 10 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Large differences exist between teachers and voters in perception of learning expectations for students in Washington's public schools. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 Expectations of Student Learning Voters and Teachers 44% Too little 16% 8% Too much 21% 38% About right 56% 10% Don't know Voters 8% 0% Teachers 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 11 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Teachers are more optimistic that US education results are where they need to be considering the economy and international competition. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 US Public Education Results Where They Need to Be Voters and Teachers 17% Yes 32% 77% No 60% 6% Don't know Voters 8% Teachers 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 12 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 24 CREDIT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Similar agreement is seen between teachers and voters around 24 credit hour diploma statements. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 24 Credit High School Diploma Agreement (strongly/somewhat) Voters and Teachers 50% The 24 credit diploma will ensure that students graduate with the opportunity to attend a four-year college in Washington 49% The 24 credit diploma will ensure that students graduate with the skills they need to compete in an apprenticeship, community college, or a four-year institution 46% 43% The 24 credit diploma will reduce the number of high school graduates who must take and pay for non credit bearing remedial, high school level courses at a two- or four year college 27% Voters 31% 0% 10% Teachers 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 14 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS Voters are more likely than teachers to agree that a greater focus on K-12 science will help secure family wage jobs. Conversely, teachers are more likely than voters to agree that common learning standards allow for better comparability between states. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 Common Standards Agreement (strongly/somewhat) Voters and Teachers A greater focus on K-12 science will help Washington students secure family-wage Washington jobs. 73% 61% An initial drop in test scores because of the higher learning standards are worth it to ensure that Washington students are better prepared for college and career, and the global workplace. 72% 65% Common learning standards in English and math across the nation will improve student learning and achievement. 68% 71% Common learning standards allow for better comparability and monitoring between different states. 62% 84% Moving to common English and math standards allows the state to pool its resources with other states and save money on common textbooks and tests. 61% Voters Teachers 63% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 16 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 ACCOUNTABILITY Voters are much more likely than teachers to agree that data the state collects should be used to determine which schools are not serving students well. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 Data Collection Statement Agreement (strongly/somewhat) Voters and Teachers Washington should collect and report financial and student performance data in one easily accessible and understandable document for educators, parents, and taxpayers. 69% 63% 82% Washington should collect and use data to determine which schools are not serving our students well and to determine appropriate supports and consequences. 47% Voters Teachers 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 18 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Voters are much more likely than teachers to agree that there should be greater school autonomy and budget control, Washington should adopt a letter grade system for school performance, and a set of comparable indicators for every school in the district in the state. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 Importance of Elements in the Washington State Education System (very/somewhat important): Top Tier Greater school autonomy and budget control for schools that are consistently performing above standard 65% 48% Washington should adopt a letter-grade "A-F" system to use when reporting which schools are or are not serving our students well 63% 14% Provide schools with greater autonomy over resources and personnel if they are successfully reducing and closing achievement gaps in performance between low-income and... 63% 60% A common and readily available set of comparable indicators, like letter grades-in a centralized dashboard-for every school and district in the state 59% 32% Use of common statewide measures of student growth as a factor in teacher and principal evaluation 58% 54% 0% DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 20% 40% 60% Voters Teachers 80% 100% 19 More voters than teachers believe students should be required to pass end-of-course exams . Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 End-of Course Exam Requirement 100% 91% 83% 90% 81% 87% 76% 80% 80% 64% 60% 40% 20% 0% Math English Voters Science History Teachers 20 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 FUNDING Voters are somewhat more likely to agree that Washington has the people, resources, and innovation to create the best educational system in the world. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 People, Resources, Spirit Agreement (strongly/somewhat) Voters and Teachers 71% Washington State has the people, resources, and innovative spirit to create the best education system in the world, but its going to take tough decisions to make it reality. Voters Teachers 66% 62% DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 64% 66% 68% 70% 72% 22 Support for increasing taxes immediately for educational funding is much lower among voters than it is with teachers. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 Washington Public Education Funding Voters and Teachers Washington needs to increase funding for K-12 education, even if it requires some increase in taxes 45% 70% Washington needs to eventually increase funding for K-12 education, but now is not the right time to increase taxes. 32% 23% Washington does not need to increase funding for K-12 education 20% 4% 3% Don't know 3% 0% DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Voters Teachers 20% 40% 60% 80% 23 ESN PRIORITIES Teachers are much more likely than voters to prioritize funding full day kindergarten for at risk children and ECEAP. Voters are much more likely than teachers to prioritize implementation of next generation science standards, mentoring programs for teachers and principals, and implementation of end-of-course English and math standards . Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 ESN Priorities (urgent/high): Top Tier Implementation of the Common Core English and Mathematics standards 60% 55% Implementation of full day kindergarten for all of the state's most at risk children 58% 76% Early childhood education and assistance program (ECEAP) 55% 71% Adoption and implementation of the Next Generation Science standards and exams 51% 35% 49% Mentoring programs for teachers and principals 40% Implementation of new (not additional) end-ofcourse exams aligned to the English and Math... 48% 31% 0% Voters 20% 40% 60% 80% Teachers 25 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Teachers are much more likely than voters to prioritize funding full day kindergarten for all children. Voters are much more likely than teachers to prioritize implementation of the 24 credit high school diploma and Washington inventory of developing skills. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 ESN Priorities (urgent/high): Bottom Tier Implementation and professional development for teachers and principals on the four-tiered evaluation system 44% 40% Implementation of the full day kindergarten for all of the state's students 41% 60% 31% Implementation of the 24 credit high school diploma 15% 28% Washington inventory of developing skills (WaKids) 16% 0% Voters 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Teachers 26 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Teachers are much more likely than voters to prioritize funding full day kindergarten for at risk and all other children, and ECEAP. Voters are much more likely than teachers to prioritize implementation of next generation science standards and implementation of end-of-course English and math standards. Voter Sample - N=500 Teacher Sample - N=500 Top Two Funding Priorities 23% Implementation of the Common Core English and... 22% Implementation of full day kindergarten for the... Adoption and implementation of the Next... 39% 19% 9% 18% Implementation of full day kindergarten for all of... Mentoring programs for teachers and principals. 14% Implementation of new (not additional) end-of-... 6% Implementation of the 24 credit high school diploma. 39% 17% 17% Early childhood education and assistance program... 27% 12% 11% 5% 11% 13% Implementation and professional development for... 2% 2% Washington inventory of developing skills (WaKids) 0% Voters DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 26% 10% Teachers 20% 30% 40% 50% 27 Implementation of common core English and math standards is the top funding priority for voters in Washington. Voter Sample - N=500 Top Two Funding Priorities - Voters Do NOT Have student in WA PS 23% Total sample N=500 Total King County Western WA Eastern WA Have student in WA PS Implementation of the Common Core English and Mathematics standards 23% 25% 24% 18% 24% Implementation of full day Kindergarten for most at-risk students 22% 22% 24% 17% 22% 25% disagree 21% Adoption and implementation of the Next Generation Science standards and exams 19% 21% 21% 11% 19% 19% Implementation of full day Kindergarten for all students 18% 16% 20% 13% 21% 16% Early Childhood education and assistance program (ECEAP) 17% 23% 13% 17% 18% 17% Mentoring programs for teachers and principals 17% 13% 19% 18% 15% 18% 25% agree strongly somewhat/ strongly 28 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013 Implementation of full-day kindergarten for all students, including those who are most at risk, is the top funding priority for Washington teachers. Top Two Funding Priorities - Teachers Teacher Sample - N=500 Total sample N=500 Total King County Puget Sound Area Western WA Eastern WA Teaching 10 yrs or less Teaching more than 10 yrs Implementation of full day Kindergarten for all students 39% 39% 42% 36% 39% 28% 41% Implementation of full day Kindergarten for most at-risk students 39% 39% 37% 42% 40% 39% 39% Early Childhood education and assistance program (ECEAP) 27% 37%25% agree 26% 28% 18% 24% somewhat/ Implementation of the Common Core English and Mathematics standards 26% 24% 24% 25% 30% 28% 25% Mentoring programs for teachers and principals 14% 15% 14% 13% 16% 15% 14% Implementation and professional development for teachers and principals on 4-tiered evaluation system 13% 16% 14% 14% 10% 18% 12% Adoption and implementation of the Next Generation Science standards and exams 9% 5% 10% 9% 11% 8% 9% 22% disagree 28% strongly strongly 29 DHM Research | ESN Washington Teachers Survey, January 2013