The 37th Annual Phi Delta Kappa poll was released yesterday. Since 2000, the issue considered the “biggest problem” for public schools has been “lack of funding.” Nevertheless, the percentage of those who cite lack of funding as the biggest problem has been declining over the last three years. It stands at 20% this year, down from 25% two years ago.
Teachers unions and education schools have been working hard over the last few years to make funding (equity and adequacy) the central concern of K-12 education. Their efforts appear to be working, even with the recent decline in poll numbers. “Discipline” held the lead for 16 of the 17 years prior, and now it is third on the list.
Federal intervention into K-12 education, via No Child Left Behind, has further energized the movement. Their strategy is now to undermine the accountability measures of NCLB, while at the same time demand more money from the federal government for “unfunded mandates”. According to this year’s Phi Delta Kappa poll, public support for the NCLB accountibility measures continue to decline.
The PDK poll is not the most reliable measure, but it does suggest that the education agenda of the Left is gaining more strength and credibility.
