Seven out of 10 Americans who say they are familiar with the No Child Left Behind Act believe that the law is either hurting public schools or making no difference. So says the latest Phi Delta Kappa/ Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools.

The poll, released Aug. 22, shows that Americans still support NCLB goals, and almost half of respondents say they have a at least a fair understanding of the law, an improvement over previous years. But familiarity is breeding contempt: the more Americans know about the law, the less likely they are to say that NCLB is helping schools in its current form.

The survey "sends a direct message to members of Congress as they begin to draft the next version of the No Child Left Behind Act," said AFT president Edward J. McElroy in a statement. "After four years, this law is not making the grade."

Almost four out of five say they are concerned that law's focus on English/language arts and math will mean less emphasis on other subjects. Almost 70 percent of respondents say that NCLB's use of a single state test cannot provide a fair picture of whether schools need improvement. NCLB's interventions for students in schools that don’t make adequate yearly progress also leave the public cold. Only 17 percent, for example, support transferring students from these buildings to other schools, preferring instead that students receive help in the schools they already attend. Almost 70 percent reject school vouchers and contracting out the operation of local school systems to private companies.

"A public that rejects the strategies used to implement NCLB is unlikely to provide the support needed if the law is to work," authors of the Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll conclude. "Common sense would call for changes to align NCLB more closely with the public's views."

The poll did show strong support for public schools. Almost half of those surveyed gave schools in their community a grade of "A" or "B." And the level of support increased when the survey sample was limited to parents with children in public schools. The poll also revealed widespread support for many recommendations the AFT is taking to Congress to help public schools work even better. Four out of five believe that schools should be given credit for the progress their students make. More than 80 percent of those surveyed believe preschool programs for at-risk children could improve their long-term performance.

Many of the Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup findings reinforce the results of a similar survey conducted in 2006 by the polling group Public Agenda. That poll shows the public wants NCLB reforms to be pursued as part of a comprehensive strategy for school improvement, and they reject "Johnny-one-note" political leaders who focus on standards and assessments to the exclusion of smaller class size, adequate funding and other important considerations.

August, 2006