Poll: 60 Percent of Americans Disapprove of Common Core

PDKAccording to the 46th edition of the PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, a majority of Americans disapprove of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Last year, almost two-thirds of Americans had never heard of the CCSS. This year, 81 percent said they had heard about the standards, and 47 percent said they had heard a great deal or a fair amount. And what they’re hearing has led to opposition: 60 percent of those questioned said they oppose the CCSS, with the biggest factor being a belief that the standards will limit the flexibility of teachers to teach what they think is best. Among those respondents who said they supported the CCSS, 74 percent cited the fact the standards would “help more students learn what they need to know regardless of where they go to school.”

William Bushaw, chief executive officer of PDK International and co-director of the PDK/Gallup poll, said, "Given the increased media coverage this year, we were not surprised that an overwhelming majority of Americans have heard about the Common Core State Standards, but we were surprised by the level of opposition,” He added, "Supporters of the standards, and educators in particular, face a growing challenge in explaining why they believe the standards are in the best interest of students in the United States.”

PDK, a global association of education professionals, has conducted this poll with Gallup every year since 1969. The latest findings are based on telephone interviews conducted in May and June 2014 with a national sample of 1,001 American adults, including a subsample of parents. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.6 percent.

About the Author

Christopher Piehler is the former editor-in-chief of THE Journal.

Featured

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • Two hands shaking in the center with subtle technology icons, graphs, binary code, and a padlock in the dark blue background

    Two Areas for K-12 Schools to Assess for When to Work with a Managed Services Provider

    The complexity of today’s IT network infrastructure and increased cybersecurity risk are quickly moving beyond many school districts’ ability to manage on their own. But a new technology model, a partnership with a managed services provider, offers a way forward for schools to overcome these challenges.