Public support for vouchers declines

According to the poll, those in favor of allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend at public expense dropped to 38 percent this year from 46 percent a year ago. Sixty percent of Americans now oppose this option, compared to 52 percent a year ago.

When reminded of the 2002 Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of voucher programs, 56 percent of respondents expressed opposition to having their state enact voucher legislation.

Sixty-two percent of respondents said that if they were given a full-tuition voucher they would send their child to a private or religious school. But only 51 said they would use a voucher if it covered half the tuition.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents believe a voucher program would not affect the achievement of students who remain in public schools.

In addition to waning support for vouchers, the poll results include other encouraging news for supporters of public education: The public continues to hold their public schools in high regard, and most Americans believe public school decisions should be made by the local school board.

"At the same time, this poll should be a wake-up call for national and state policymakers and lawmakers on the strengths and weaknesses of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act," says a statement from NSBA.

"The public is confused about what the law says and what it does to their schools and to their children," NSBA states. "The Administration, Congress, and the governors should look closely at what parents are saying about NCLB and set about on a process to fix the law."

More than three-fourths of respondents say they know little (40 percent) or nothing at all (36 percent) about NCLB.

When asked about the strategies embodied in NCLB, most respondents do not support them.

For example, while NCLB emphasizes federal intervention, 61 percent believe decisions about what is taught in public schools should be made by the local school board, and 22 believe such decisions should be made at the state level.

Only 26 percent believe it is possible to accurately judge a student's proficiency in English and math on the basis of a single test, and 66 percent believe a single test cannot provide a fair picture of whether a school is in need of improvement.

Sixty-six percent believe the emphasis in NCLB on standardized testing will encourage teachers to teach to the test, and 60 percent believe "this would be a bad thing."

Among other findings:

• Respondents regard funding as the biggest problem schools in their communities "must face." Funding was cited by 25 percent, followed by discipline (16 percent), overcrowding (14 percent), and drugs (9 percent).

• Sixty-eight percent of public school parents polled give the school their oldest child attends an A or B.

• According to 59 percent of respondents, the teachers in their communities aren't paid enough. About a third believe teacher salaries are "just about right."

• Nearly two-thirds of respondents -- 65 percent -- believe teachers should be paid more for teaching in schools that have been identified as needing improvement.

• A growing number of Americans -- 78 percent, up from 69 percent a year ago -- believe the existing school system should be reformed rather than replaced by an alternative system.

• Ninety percent say it is important to close the achievement gap between white students and black and Hispanic students, but 58 percent say spending more money on low-achieving students is not the answer.

• Only 25 percent favor schools switching to a four-day week to cut costs.