PDK/Gallup Poll Resources


PDK/GALLUP POLL RESOURCES Listen to or watch the PDK/Gallup Poll webinar from October 16, 2008 Bill Bushaw, PDK's executive director, leads an online discussion about this year's poll results and highlights the PDK resources that members can use to make their own presentations to education students and the community. Video: Straight Talk About Schools Hear what some Americans said in response to the same questions posed by the PDK/Gallup poll. School districts may want to download the video to stimulate discussions with school board members or other policy makers. PDK chapters may want to download the video for use at a chapter meeting. PowerPoint Presentation View or download a PowerPoint slide show of the major findings from this year’s PDK/Gallup poll. Note: You can also find useful notes about the content of each slide. With the slide show open in PowerPoint, go to View on the toolbar and choose the Notes Page format. PDK/Gallup Poll Press Release PDK/Gallup Poll Archive PDK members and Kappan subscribers: Log-in to access the poll archive, which integrates all of the topics that have been covered in current and past polls. All of the specific questions and national results from the past 39 years are available. This year's data will be added on August 21. A Brief History of the Poll The PDK/Gallup Poll began as the joint brainchild of Charles F. Kettering II, founder of CFK Ltd., and Edward Brainard, former director of the grants division of the Kettering Foundation and first president of CFK Ltd. Kettering and Brainard asked George Gallup, Sr., what he thought of conducting an annual education poll, and he enthusiastically endorsed the project. In 1969, Stanley Elam, then editor of Kappan, summarized the results of the first of these polls. Brainard asked Elam if Kappan would be interested in publishing the entire text of the report of the second poll, and these reports have become a standing feature of the magazine ever since. Beginning with CFK Ltd., a variety of funders have supported the poll over the years. In 2004, however, the Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation became the sole funder of the PDK/Gallup poll.		Download a pdf of the 40th PDK/Gallup Poll This year's PDK/Gallup poll asked Americans about national education standards, federal funding for public schools, the best way to measure student achievement, and how U.S. schools compare with schools in other countries. Here's what they said: Presidential Candidates Americans view Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as much more supportive of public schools than Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Federal Funding Americans support an increased use of federal funds to maintain local public schools. No Child Left Behind Fewer than 2 of 10 Americans believe the No Child Left Behind legislation should be continued without significant change. Biggest Problems Lack of funding for schools tops the list of "biggest problems facing schools" for the sixth year in a row. International Comparisons Americans' impressions of public schools in Europe and Asia are very positive with almost 50% assigning grades of A's and B's, as compared with lower grades assigned to our nation's schools. College Courses for High School Students Americans are supportive of high school students taking college-level courses and earning college-level credits while still in high school. Paying for College Even though college costs have increased significantly, seven of 10 American parents believe they will be able to pay for college for their oldest child, a finding consistent with the response 13 years ago when it was last asked . Assessment In a change from nine years ago, Americans believe written observations by teachers, as opposed to scores on standardized tests, are a superior way to document student academic progress. Teacher Pay Almost three of four Americans believe teachers should be paid higher salaries as an incentive to teach in schools identified as 'in need of improvement.' Highlights of 2008 Poll results Download a PDF file of a handy one-page flyer of the major findings of this year’s PDK/Gallup Poll
Download PDF files of all past polls
Poll 40 2008 Poll 39 2007 Poll 38 2006 Poll 37 2005 Poll 36 2004 Poll 35 2003 Poll 34 2002 Poll 33 2001 Poll 32 2000 Poll 31 1999	Poll 30 1998 Poll 29 1997* Poll 28 1996* Poll 27 1995* Poll 26 1994 Poll 25 1993* Poll 24 1992* Poll 23 1991 Poll 22 1990* Poll 21 1989	Poll 20 1988 Poll 19 1987 Poll 18 1986* Poll 17 1985 Poll 16 1984 Poll 15 1983 Poll 14 1982* Poll 13 1981 Poll 12 1980 Poll 11 1979	Poll 10 1978 Poll 09 1977 Poll 08 1976 Poll 07 1975 Poll 06 1974 Poll 05 1973 Poll 04 1972 Poll 03 1971 Poll 02 1970 Poll 01 1969
*The pdf version of this poll is available courtesy Matthew Laliberte.

Last modified October 28, 2008
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