CER Response to 49th Annual PDK Poll

August 28th, 2017

Statement from the Center for Education Reform

A Special Report issued today by the Center for Education Reform critiquing the annual PDK poll on the public’s attitudes toward the public schools finds poll questions remain highly misleading, the public’s attitudes highly mixed, and perhaps most important and least prevalent in the PDK report, that one’s own experiences highly influence what they want for theirs or others’ children.

“While PDK is a widely respected organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for the traditional public education system, and its annual survey a good opportunity to take the public’s temperature, it nevertheless fails to reflect the reality in American education,” said CER Founder & CEO Jeanne Allen.

“And that reality is that fewer than 60 percent of our nation’s students lack proficiency in core subjects,” added Allen.

CER’s Special Report details the often cumbersome and confusing PDK questions which tend to reinforce the organization’s mission while ignoring the broader challenge – that millions of US children are failing an education that can provide them an opportunity to participate in the future.

To read CER’s report click here.

###

On September 26th, Jeanne Allen will participate on a panel sponsored by PDK reviewing the poll results at the National Press Club’s Holeman Lounge, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

For additional details on this and the poll, please visit http://pdkintl.org.

Share this story:

How We Connect

Leveraging our deep, diverse network to forge powerful alliances that accelerate innovation & opportunity

  • Broker new collaborations.
  • Introduce potential allies from disparate areas — e.g., pairing educators with entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, etc.
  • Foster an ecosystem for visionary entrepreneurs & breakthrough technology companies & products to enhance school
    infrastructure, teaching methods & learning tools.

How We Engage

Activating stakeholders with physical & virtual interactions around pivotal issues, trends & opportunities

  • Convene a powerful cross-section of educators, business leaders, families, pundits, analysts & officials.
  • Provoke spirited & meaningful conversations about watershed topics.
  • Feature prominent personalities with passion for education.
  • Mobilize visible events in strategic locations.

How We Inform

Providing essential news, facts, data & analysis about the state of education in the U.S.

  • Deliver substantive & timely research, stories & commentary.
  • Debunk myths, misrepresentations & distortions to ensure accuracy & substance
  • Utilize extensive media. connections to raise awareness for critical education challenges & agendas.
  • Draw on 30+ of experience as an education thought leader to contribute unique & profound perspectives.

How We Influence

Advancing & protecting education reforms that prioritize the needs of learners & families

  • Aligning with high-ranking officials & organizations at every level
  • Promoting education innovation, diversity of options, parental choice & proper allocation of resources
  • Uniting advocates with legislative allies to spur action
  • Confronting opposition & antiquated views head-on