Gauging Attitudes on Tennessee Schools - Tennesseans are Cautiously Optimistics about K-12 Public Education | Page 2

More in depth findings of the poll include:
TN voters believe K-12 public education should be a top priority of state government. About
one-third of voters (32%) believe improving the quality of public schools should be one of the
state’s most important goals. The only goal that rated higher: Strengthening the economy and
creating jobs (34%).
TN voters believe K-12 public education is closely tied to the economy and jobs. More than
two-thirds of voters (69%) agree that graduating high school students who are college- and
career-ready is critical to building a strong economy and creating jobs. Meanwhile, about four
out of five voters (82%) believe that having a strong K-12 public education system is “very
important” to the economy.
TN voters are mixed in their views on the quality of K-12 public education. Fewer than half of
voters (48%) have a favorable view of K-12 public education in the state. Of those, 41% rate it
as “good” and just 7% rate it as “excellent.” Meanwhile, 45% of voters believe TN’s K-12 public
education system is moving in the right direction while about one-third of voters (34%) believe
it is headed in the wrong direction.
TN voters are upbeat about the state’s early win in the federal Race to the Top competition.
More than one-third of voters (36%) are aware of the competition to improve K-12 public
education. When informed about TN’s winning bid in the competition, more than threequarters of voters (76%) say they are more optimistic about the prospects for education
reform.
TN voters strongly support higher academic standards in the classroom. More than two-thirds
of voters (69%) “strongly support” the State Board of Education’s decision to raise standards in
key subjects including reading and mathematics. Strong support increases slightly (71%) after
voters hear statements for and against higher standards — including arguments that student
test scores could fall and costs to local school systems could rise.
TN voters have mixed views on some recent reforms, with many undecided. For example, 31%
of voters support charter schools while a similar number (29%) oppose them, with 40%
undecided. Meanwhile, 40% of voters support TN’s new law requiring that half of a teacher’s
evaluation be based on student test scores and student performance data while about onethird of voters (34%) oppose the law, with 26% undecided. A majority of voters (52%) supports
TN’s new law allowing the state to take over persistently failing schools, with 40% opposing it.