Survey Captures the Heartbeat of American Families on Education
CER Press Release
Washington, DC
October 8, 2013
Celebrating twenty years as the pioneer and leading advocate for substantive reform in education, The Center for Education Reform (CER) in collaboration with Education Nation, released a nationwide poll at NBC News’ Education Nation Summit yesterday. Full results to be announced Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at CER’s 20th Anniversary Conference at the Washington Hilton. Overall, the survey demonstrates that Americans increasingly support more accountability for students and schools, and more power for parents in the process.
“As when I founded CER, those who work to change the status quo and replace mediocrity with excellence are often met by resistance or calls for acquiescence by members of their own “flock” who want us to appeal to the reason of our opponents, or government officials who have a vested interest in the status quo,” said CER President, Jeanne Allen. “We took this poll to hear what Americans really think about education. We want their voice to be heard loud and clear,” she continued.
Former Governor of Florida and respected education thought leader, Jeb Bush has said that “Jeanne Allen and, the Center for Education Reform both have been incredible resources both on a personal and a policy level. Jeanne and CER was involved in the education reform movement in our country before it was cool…”
Said Joel Klein, CEO of Amplify and former NYC Chancellor about Allen and CER – “You don’t do what’s easy, you don’t do what’s comfortable. You simply do what is right.”
The Pollster who conducted the survey for CER, Kellyanne Conway, of the polling company inc./ WomanTrend, said “Americans continue to place high value on choice, accountability and innovation in education. They believe new technologies should complement traditional learning, and support alternatives to conventional schooling. Even those without school-age children – now a large majority of Americans – view themselves as stakeholders, unafraid to aim higher for America’s children.”
Among the key findings of the nationwide survey of 1,000 adults are data concerning:
• The role of parents in education;
• choice related reforms;
• public school accountability;
• better methods of meeting the needs of individual students; and
• improving the incorporation of innovation and technology.
Conway will present the full results of the poll at CER’s 20th Anniversary Conference, Education Reform: Before it Was Cool. The event will be live streamed: https://edreform.com/about/events/20th-anniversary/conference/
Link to Nationwide Poll’s Executive Summary found here: https://edreform.com/2013/10/americas-attitude-towards-education-reform-executive-summary/