The Politics of School Improvement

With a national election pending, it seemed appropriate for this year's poll to survey the public's view of its political leaders as proponents or supporters of school improvement. A series of questions was asked regarding the two major political parties and their actions at the federal level.

Americans -- by a 44% to 27% majority -- perceive the Democratic Party as more interested in improving public education than the Republican Party. This perception is shared across all demographic groups, with one unsurprising exception: Republicans view their own party as more supportive of public school improvement. Nonwhites are the demographic group with the most favorable attitudes toward Democrats on this question.

By a better than 2-1 margin the public views President Clinton as having done more than the Republican Congress to improve public education. Virtually all population groups, including public school parents, give Clinton the same margin over Congress.

To determine which party is perceived to be more likely to propose actions at the federal level that would benefit nonpublic schools, two questions were asked. The public is much more inclined to think that the Republicans would take action on behalf of nonpublic schools, assuming they win this fall, than would the Democrats, assuming they win.

Specifically, almost six in 10 (59%) think it likely that the Republicans would take such action, including 27% who say "very likely." In contrast, fewer than four in 10 (37%) believe it likely that the Democrats would take action on behalf of nonpublic schools if they win the upcoming election, with only 11% saying "very likely."

THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUESTIONS: Suppose the Republican Party takes over the Presidency, as well as the Congress, after the election this fall. How likely do you think the Republicans are to propose actions that favor private schools over public schools -- very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely? Suppose the Democrats win the Presidency again, and also take over Congress, in the election this fall. How likely do you think the Democrats are to propose actions that favor private schools over public schools -- very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely?
Favor Nonpublic Schools	Republicans %	Democrats %
Likely to:
Very	27	11
Somewhat	32	26
Not likely to:
Not very	23	39
Not at all	8	15
Don't know	10	9

Some of the differences in the way the public views our political leaders at the federal level may be related to the priority the public attaches to education as a governmental responsibility. The Republican emphasis in recent months has been on the need for a balanced budget; however, in response to a poll question regarding the priority given to school improvement and the priority given to a balanced budget, the public expresses a strong preference (64% to 25%) for school improvement.

Significantly, Independents gave improving education a wide margin (65% to 23%) over budget balancing. There were some notable demographic differences in response to this question. For example, Democrats placed education ahead of budget balancing by a 75% to 15% margin, while Republicans gave education priority by a much smaller margin (50% to 40%). Those between 18 and 29 years of age, blacks and other nonwhites, college graduates, low-income respondents, and public school parents were all considerably above the average in giving education a higher priority than a balanced budget.

State and Local Officials

Finally, poll planners acknowledge that the federal role in education is limited and that most of the important decisions regarding schools are made in state capitols, at school board meetings, in superintendents' offices, and by teachers. It seemed important, therefore, to find out how committed the public feels leaders at these levels are to local public school improvement.

It may come as some surprise to educators that a majority of the public sees the governor, state legislators, the school board, the superintendent, and teachers as either "very committed" or "quite committed" to the improvement of public education in their local schools. However, it is not surprising to past readers of these polls that the public sees local teachers as the most committed to this goal. Legislators fare least well on the question, but even here 55% of respondents see their legislators as either "very committed" or "quite committed" to school improvement.