ES Report Snapshotwww.educationsector.org

What Teachers Are Saying About Unions and Their Profession

Top findings from our Trending Toward Reform survey

STRONG SUPPORT FOR UNIONS

TRENDING TOWARD KEY REFORMS

Are more involved in unions

Percent of union members who say: 2011 2007n=835 n=949

They are very or somewhat involved and engaged in the local union

38% 24%

Today’s Teachers:

Depend on unions for protection

Percent saying they strongly or somewhat agree with each of the following:

2011n=1,101

Without a union, teachers would be vulnerable to school politics or administrators who abuse their power

81%

Want more union support in reformGenerally speaking, do you think that teachers unions or associations should:

2011 2007n=1,101 n=1,010

Put more focus than they currently do on issues such as improving teacher quality and student achievement

43% 32%

Mostly stick to traditional union issues such as protecting teachers’ salaries, benefits, and jobs

42% 52%

Support union help with dismissal

Should Unions Help Simplify the Process for Removing Ineffective Teachers?

Give evaluations high marksThink about your most recent formal evaluation. How close does each statement come to describing your own experience? Percent saying item comes very or somewhat close:

2011n=1,101

The evaluation was done carefully and taken seriously by administration 78%

The rubric/criteria used for evaluation were fair and relevant 76%

The feedback from the evaluation was meaningful and helped me improve my teaching

62%

Support more pay for tough assignments

See tenure as more meaningfulWhen you hear that a teacher at your school has been awarded tenure, which would be more likely to cross your mind?

2011 2007n=989 n=972

That it’s just a formality – it has very little to do with whether a teacher is good or not

63% 69%

Compiled from Trending Toward Reform: Teachers Speak on Unions and the Future of the Profession. Trend data in part compiled from Waiting to Be Won Over: Teachers Speak on the Profession, Unions, and Reform and Stand By Me: What Teachers Really Think About Unions, Merit Pay, and Other Professional Matters. Read this report at www.educationsector.org

How Much Would You Favor or Oppose Differentiated Pay Proposals?

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Low-performing schools hard-to-fill subjects

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Today’s teachers face a new slate of bold reforms. Policymakers are working to create new teacher evaluation systems, overhaul professional development, revise tenure laws, and rethink hiring, compensation, and dismissal policies. At the same time, teachers face budget

cuts and looming layoffs. How these two trends – adding on and cutting back – will intersect is a question making teachers anxious about their individual work and the future of the profession. What do today’s teachers think about these reforms and, notably, the role of teachers unions in

pushing for or against these reforms? In fall/winter 2011, Education Sector surveyed 1,101 teachers to find out. Here’s what teachers had to say and how their opinions have changed.