Research and polling demonstrates that students, teachers, parents, and the general public are
dissatisfied with the status quo – and want to do something about it.
The Public on College and Career Readiness
33
To really get ahead in life a person needs at least some education beyond high school, whether that means university, community college, technical or vocational school. To really get ahead in life a person needs more than just a high school education.
69% 67%
Strongly Agree Agree
To really get ahead in life, a person needs at least some
education beyond high school, whether that means
university, community college, technical or
vocational school. To really get ahead in life,
a person needs more than just a high school
education. 87%
89%
Source: Achieve (2010). Achieving the Possible: What Americans Think the College and Career- Ready Agenda. http://www.achieve.org/files/AchievingThePossible-FinalReport.pdf
Parents on College and Career Readiness
34
Source: Civic Enterprises (2008). One Dream, Two Realities: Perspectives of Parents on America's High Schools. http://www.futurereadyproject.org/sites/frp/files/onedream.pdf
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% High-Performing Schools Moderate-Performing Schools Low-Performing Schools 86% 78% 74% 66% 38% 18% 51% 25% 13%
Percentage of Parents Who Say… Very Important for child
to get education that would lead to college School does a very good job preparing child for college
School does a very good job preparing child for good job
The vast majority of students intend to go on to college and do not expect to drop out of high school:
! 93 percent of middle school students report there is “no chance” they
will drop out in high school.
! 94 percent of high school students say that they are planning to
continue their education after high school either at a two- or four-year institution.
! 95 percent of teenagers report that graduating from high school is
“critical to their future success.”
Students Overwhelmingly Want to Succeed and Attend College
35
Source: Middle Schools Poll, Prepared for the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Phi Delta Kappa, 2007; Civic Enterprises, The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts, 2006; Boys & Girls Clubs of America/Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, Teen Graduation Crisis Survey, 2009.
Graduates Consistently Regret Not Having Worked Harder – Or Having Been More Challenged – in High School
36
Source: College Board (2011). One Year Out: Findings From A National Survey Among Members Of The High School Graduating Class Of 2010. http://www.collegeboard.org/OneYearOut
47%
35%
53%
56%
Percent of 2010 Graduates Who Wish They Had Worked Harder In High School, by Postsecondary Enrollment
Employers See the Value of Education – and the Knowledge and Skills Gaps in Their Recent Hires
37
Source: Corporate Voices for Working Families & Civic Enterprises (2011). Across the Great Divide: Perspectives of CEOs and College Presidents on America’s Higher Education and Skills Gap. www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/across-the-great-divide.pdf & The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, ASTD, SHRM (2008). The Ill-Prepared U.S. Workforce: Exploring the Challenges of Employer-Provided Workforce Readiness Training. www.shrm.org/Research/SurveyFindings/Articles/Documents/BED-09Workforce_RR.pdf
34% 22% 17% 51% 55% 51% 16% 24% 32%
Overall Preparation of New Workforce Entrants Deficient Adequate Excellent 2-Year College High School 4-year College
! More than three in four business
leaders believe that increasing
postsecondary completion will have an extremely or very positive impact on the U.S. economy (79%) and
workforce productivity (76%).
! Executives also recognize
increasing postsecondary
experiences could affect both the success of their company (75%) and their company’s ability to hire and retain employees with the necessary skills and knowledge (75%).
Educators Support Major Elements of the College- and Career-Ready Agenda
38 Sources: MetLife (2010). The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. www.metlife.com/assets/cao/contributions/foundation/american-
teacher/MetLife_Teacher_Survey_2010.pdf & Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Scholastic (2010). Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's School. www.scholastic.com/primarysources/pdfs/Scholastic_Gates_noapp_0310.pdf
high school is not preparing students it is important for all students to have clearer standards would make a
common standards would have a
69% 67% 74%
60%
Percent of Educators Who Agree That
High school is not preparing
students for the workforce
It is important for all students to have one year or more of postsecondary education to be
prepared for a career
Clearer standards would make a strong or very strong impact on
student achievement Common standards would have
a strong or very strong impact
Educators Support Major Elements of the College- and Career-Ready Agenda
39
Source: Achieve (2012) Growing Awareness, Growing Support: Teacher and Voter Understanding of the Common Core State Standards & Assessments. http://www.achieve.org/growingawarenessCCSS
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Common Assessments Common Core State Standards
7% 8% 28% 20% 64% 72%
Percentage of Teachers Who Favor/Oppose Implementing the Common Core and Common Assessments…
Don't Know/Not Sure Oppose Implementation Support Implementation 25% Strongly 15% Strongly 33% Strongly 10% Strongly