gallup-education week superintendent survey

7/27/2019 GALLUP-EDUCATION WEEK SUPERINTENDENT SURVEY

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GALLUP-EDUCATION WEEK SUPERINTENDENTPANEL – INAUGURAL SURVEY FINDINGSSUPERINTENDENTS SEE THE VALUE OF EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL AND

MANY BELIEVE THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS WILL CREATE CONSISTENCY

JUNE 6, 2013



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ABOUT GALLUP EDUCATION

Gallup experts work with leaders in education to hire and develop talented educators, identiy the strengths o each

individual student, and create engaging learning environments — ostering long-term student success in the classroom and

in uture careers. Te best educators know that or students to achieve meaningul, lasting success in the classroom and

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hope, engagement, and wellbeing — the predictors Gallup has discovered matter the most. Measuring and moving the

needle on these outcomes transorm educational institutions into places where students — and educators — thrive.

For more inormation, visit education.gallup.com, ollow @GallupEducation, or email [email protected].

ABOUT GALLUP

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Combining more than 75 years o experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors o

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ABOUT EDUCATION WEEK

Since its ounding in 1981, Education Week has been recognized as America’s preeminent source o news and inormation

in pre-collegiate education. With an editorial purview that spans local, state, and national news, and issues rom preschool

through the transition to high school, Education Week strives to be a one-stop source or news, inormation, analysis, and

services essential to driving critical changes in K-12 policy and practice. Te paper, published 37 times a year, has a print

readership o 225,000 and reaches an audience o 1.1 million users through the edweek.org website. Education Week is

published by Editorial Projects in Education, a nonprot organization based in Bethesda, Md.

GALLUP-EDUCATION WEEk SUPERINTENDENT PANEL – INAUGURAL SURVEY FINDINGS

Copyright © 2013 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Gallup and Education Week launched a panel o K-12 superintendents in the United States to track and understand their

opinions on important topics and issues acing education. Gallup wi ll survey these leaders every quarter on an annual basis.

Te key ndings rom the inaugural study include:

THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS

One o the major goals o the common core standards is to create consistent learning or students throughout the country.

According to this study, many superintendents believe that the common core standards will provide more consistency in the

quality, but some say the change will have no efect.

• More than hal o superintendents (58%) say that the common core standards will improve the quality o education in

their community. Tree in 10 (30%) believe that the common core standards will have no efect.

• Only 2% o superintendents strongly agree that their school district is getting adequate support at the ederal level to

implement common core standards.

• Seventy ve (75%) o superintendents say they believe that having common core standards would provide more

consistency in the quality o education between school districts and states.

EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL

Te majority o superintendents believe that education beyond high school is important or graduates. Few believe that GPA

and standardized testing is the best predictor o success in college. In addition, the majority o superintendents believe that

high school graduates are not prepared to nd a good job, but a ew more believe more high school graduates are prepared to

enter college. Tis indicates that they believe it is important to obtain an education beyond high school.

• Nearly all o superintendents — 96% — say that it is very important that high schools prepare students or education

beyond high school.

• Only 5% o superintendents strongly agree that a high GPA is the best predictor o success in college, and only 6%

strongly agree that a high SA or AC score is the best predictor o success in college.

TEACHERS

Having efective teachers in the classroom is essential to creating a successul learning environment.

• Eighty-one percent (81%) o superintendents agree or strongly agree that teachers in their school district are

evaluated on their efectiveness in the classroom rather than on the number o years o teaching in the classroom.

• Tree in 10 (30%) o superintendents strongly agree that their school district has an efective ongoing proessional

development program designed or teachers.



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TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

Te ability to add technology universally in the classroom, with the intent o increasing student learning is stil l a substantial

challenge.

• Forty our percent (44%) o superintendents strongly agree that the use o technology in the classroom increasesstudent engagement.

• When asked i every student should have a laptop or tablet in the classroom to accelerate his/her learning, 37% o

superintendents strongly agree.

• More than three in 10 (33%) superintendents strongly agree that a good teacher who uses advanced technology to

teach creates a better student learning environment than a good teacher who does not use advanced technology to

teach.

BUDGET CUTS

Balancing school districts’ budgets remains one o the most challenging tasks or superintendents. According to this study,many superintendents are prepared to make budget cuts in the upcoming school year.

• Nearly seven in 10 (66%) superintendents are expected to make budgets cuts in the upcoming school year.

• O the superintendents planning to make budget cuts, 42% are planning on making cuts within operations and

maintenance, while 36% say they will make cuts within instruction.

For more inormation, reer to the subsequent section, Key Findings.



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METHODOLOGY

Te sample consists o 12,433 K-12 school distr icts across the United States. Using email addresses, Gallup recruited leaders

and built the sample. Te sample is not nationally representative o U.S. school districts. Gallup conducted 2,586 Web

surveys rom March 14 to April 4, 2013.

For results based on this sample size o 2,586 total respondents, with about 95% condence, the margin o error attributable

to sampling error is ±1.9 percentage points.



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kEY FINDINGS

THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS

More than hal o superintendents (58%) say that the common core standards will improve the quality o education in their

community. Tree in 10 (30%) believe that the common core standards will have no efect.

Do you believe common core standards would improve the quality o education in your community,

decrease the quality o education in your community, or have no eect?

Improve the quality o education 58%

Decrease the quality o education 8%

Have no efect 30%

Don’t know/Does not apply 4%

Only a ew (7%) superintendents strongly agree that the common core standards prevent individualized learning. In

contrast, more than two in 10 (24%) strongly disagree that the standards prevent individualized learning.

Nearly six in 10 (56%) strongly disagree that their school district is getting adequate support at the ederal level to

implement common core standards, and only 2% strongly agree that they are getting adequate support rom the

ederal level.

On a fve-point scale, where 5 means strongly agree and 1 means strongly disagree, please indicate

your level o agreement with each o the ollowing statements.

%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

know/

Does not

apply

Te common core standards prevent individualizedlearning.

24% 30% 22% 14% 7% 4%

My school district is getting adequate support at theederal level to implement common core standards.

56% 24% 10% 3% 2% 6%

Many superintendents (68%) say their school district is not coordinating with any local postsecondary education institutions

around the implementation o the common core state standards.

Is your school district coordinating with any local postsecondary education institutions around the

implementation o the common core state standards?

Yes 28%

No 68%




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More than hal (56%) o superintendents say the common core standards would help make education in the United States

more competitive globally, while 33% say the common core standards would have no efect.

Do you believe common core standards would help make education in the United States more

competitive globally, less competitive globally, or have no eect?

More competitive 56%

Less competitive 5%

Have no efect 33%


Tree in our (75%) superintendents believe that the common core standards will provide more consistency in the quality o

education between school districts and between states.

Some educators believe that common core standards would provide more consistency in the quality

o education between school districts and between states. Do you believe that having common core standards would provide more consistency in the quality o education between school districts and

states?

Yes 75%

No 21%


EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL

Nearly all (96%) superintendents say that it is very important that high schools prepare students or education beyond

high school.

In your opinion, is it very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important

that high schools prepare students or education beyond high school?

Not at all important Not very important Somewhat important Very important Don’t know

0% 0% 4% 96% 0%

Four in 10 (40%) superintendents say, other than the cost, lack o social support is one o the biggest barriers that high

school students ace in pursuing higher education.

In your opinion, other than the cost, which ONE o the ollowing is the biggest barrier that high school

students ace in pursuing higher education?

Not being academically prepared 19%

Lack o social support 40%

Lack o inormation 11%

Another barrier 24%

Don’t know 6%



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When asked what percentage o students graduate rom high school prepared to nd a good job in the workorce, only 18%

say that 75% to less than 100% are prepared.

In your opinion, what percentage o students graduate rom high school prepared to fnd a good job in

the workorce?

No high school graduates are prepared to nd a good job in the workorce 3%

Less than 25 percent 26%

25 to less than 50 percent 23%



All high school graduates are prepared to nd a good job in the workorce 1%

Don't know 3%

When asked what percentage o students graduate rom high school prepared to enter college, only 46% say that 50% to less

than 75% are prepared.

In your opinion, what percentage o students graduate rom high school prepared to enter college?

No high school graduates are prepared to enter college 0%

Less than 25 percent 5%




All high school graduates are prepared to enter college 1%

Don't know 2%

Only 5% o superintendents strongly agree that a high GPA is the best predictor o success in college and only 6% strongly

agree that a high SA or AC score is the best predictor o success in college.



%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

know/Does

not apply

A high GPA is the best predictor o success in college. 7% 21% 35% 32% 5% 0%

A high SA or AC score is the best predictor o success in college.

6% 16% 35% 37% 6% 0%



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TEACHERS

More than our in 10 (42%) superintendents strongly agree that teachers in their school district are evaluated on their

efectiveness in the classroom rather than on the number o years o teaching in the classroom.

On a fve-point scale, where 5 means strongly agree and 1 means strongly disagree, please indicateyour level o agreement with each o the ollowing statements.

%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

know/Does

not apply

Te teachers in my school district are evaluated ontheir efectiveness in the classroom rather than on thenumber o years o teaching in the classroom.

3% 5% 12% 39% 42% 0%

One in 10 (10%) superintendents strongly agree that their school district has a process to identiy and develop talented

students to prepare them or uture leadership roles.



%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

know/Does

not apply

My school district has a process to identiy anddevelop talented students to prepare them or utureleadership roles.

3% 16% 33% 37% 10% 1%

A large number o superintendents (72%) say their school district is very efective at providing a quality education. Only

36% o superintendents say their school district is very efective at orming great partnerships with parents/guardians. Five

in 10 (50%) superintendents say their school district is very efective at recruiting and retaining talented teachers.

How would you rate the eectiveness o your school district in the ollowing areas?

%1 Not

effective

at all

%2 Not too

effective

%3

Somewhat

effective

%4 Very

effective Don’t know

Providing a quality education 0% 1% 28% 72% 0%

Preparing students or the world o work 0% 3% 56% 40% 0%

Preparing students or engaged citizenship 0% 5% 51% 44% 0%

Identiying and assessing student outcomes 0% 5% 47% 48% 1%Forming great partnerships with parents/guardians 0% 10% 54% 36% 1%

Recruiting and retaining talented teachers 0% 6% 43% 50% 1%

Recruiting and retaining talented principals 1% 6% 37% 54% 2%

Forming great partnerships with community members 0% 10% 47% 41% 1%

Using data to inorm decision-making 0% 5% 42% 51% 1%



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Tree in 10 (30%) superintendents strongly agree that their school district has an efective ongoing proessional development

program designed or teachers. Less than two in 10 (17%) superintendents strongly agree that their school district has an

efective ongoing proessional development program designed or principals.

On a fve-point scale, where 5 means strongly agree and 1 means strongly disagree, please indicateyour level o agreement with each o the ollowing statements.

%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

now/Does

not apply

My school district has an efective ongoingproessional development program designed orteachers.

1% 5% 20% 44% 30% 0%

My school district has an efective ongoingproessional development program designed orprincipals.

3% 13% 29% 37% 17% 1%

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

More than our in 10 (44%) strongly agree that the use o technology in the classroom increases student engagement. Less

than three in 10 (27%) strongly agree that the use o technology in the classroom increases teacher engagement.



%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

now/Does

not apply

Te use o technology in the classroom increases

student engagement.1% 1% 11% 43% 44% 0%

Te use o technology in the classroom increasesteacher engagement.

1% 3% 22% 47% 27% 0%

About our in 10 (37%) superintendents strongly agree that every student should have a laptop or tablet in the classroom to

accelerate his/her learning.



%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree Don’t know

Every student should have a laptop or tablet in theclassroom to accelerate his/her learning.

2% 7% 21% 33% 37% 1%



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When asked i a good teacher who uses advanced technology to teach creates a better student learning environment than a

good teacher who does not use advanced technology to teach, about three in 10 (33%) strongly agree.



%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

now/Does

not apply

A good teacher who uses advanced technology to teachcreates a better student learning environment than agood teacher who does not use advanced technology to teach.

4% 8% 18% 38% 33% 0%

BUDGET CUTS

Nearly seven in 10 (66%) superintendents say their school district expects to make budget cuts in the upcoming school year.

Does your school district expect to make budget cuts in the upcoming school year?

Yes 66%

No 30%

Don't know/Does not apply 4%

Moreover, o the superintendents who say they expect to make budget cuts in the upcoming school year, 42% report that

operations and maintenance will be most afected by those budget cuts, while 36% say instruction wi ll be most afected.

Which o the ollowing areas will be most aected by budget cuts next year? Select all that apply .

Special education 18%

ransportation 20%

Athletics 21%

Administration 30%

Operations and maintenance 42%

Instruction 36%

Salary and wages 33%

Employee benets 26%

Other 13%

Don’t know 1%**Asked o those who said “yes” in the previous question.

**Respondents were allowed to select multiple responses.



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When asked about issues that will be a chal lenge this year in their school district, 52% o superintendents strongly agree

that budget shortalls will be a challenge. Likewise, 52% o superintendents strongly agree that rising demands or

assessment rom the state and ederal level will be a challenge.

This year, the ollowing issues will be a challenge or my school district:

%1 Strongly

Disagree %2 %3 %4

%5 Strongly

Agree

Don’t

now/Does

not apply

Budget shortalls 4% 7% 15% 21% 52% 1%

Rising demands or assessment rom the state andederal level

1% 4% 11% 30% 52% 1%

Strengthening academic rigor 2% 9% 19% 40% 31% 0%

Revamping curriculum 2% 9% 21% 39% 30% 0%

Improving the academic perormance o underprepared students

1% 5% 17% 38% 38% 0%

Better preparing students or higher education 2% 8% 26% 40% 22% 2%

Preparing students or engaged citizenship 3% 11% 35% 36% 15% 0%



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For more inormation:

Visit education.gallup.com

Follow @GallupEducation

Contact [email protected]

gallup-education week superintendent survey

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