Common Core | News

Poll: 60 Percent of Americans Disapprove of Common Core

• By Christopher Piehler
• 08/20/14

According 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.