By the numbers on public opinion on education: a data bank on education trends for district leaders.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

As of March 2004, 5 states--Connecticut, Kentucky, New York, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania--had met or were partially on track to meeting all 40 NCLB requirements.

TEACHER QUALITY

People believe that additional teachers will not necessarily
improve the quality of teaching:

                                SOMEWHAT    FAVOR
Test teachers on knowledge
of subject/teaching skills        70%         23%

More professional
development for teachers          70%         21%

Increase teachers'
salaries                          58%         25%

Increase salaries even 50%
if it means higher taxes          50%         30%

Encourage other professionals
to enter teaching                 47%         31%

Note: Table made from bar graph.

ACCOUNTABILITY

How well do you think our K-12 schools are working?

                           All Adults     K-12 Parents

WORKING WELL                   14%             16%
NEED COMPLETE OVERHAUL         15%             14%
NEED SOME CHANGES/             52%             58%
  BASICALLY KEEP AS IS
NEED MAJOR CHANGES             45%             41%

Note: Table made from bar graph.

EDUCATION FUNDING

How well do you
think our K-12 schools
are working?

Somewhat confident     46%
Not yet confident      23%
Not at all confident   15%
Very confident         15%
Not sure                1%

Note: table made from pie chart.

SIN TAXES

If your state experienced severe budget shortfalls,
which would you rather see in addition to belt tightening?

                                                          All adults

INCREASED TAXES ON ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES                     53%
INCREASED STATE INCOME OR SALES TAX                           22%
INCREASED LOCAL TAXES                                          7%
CUTS IN EDUCATION FORCING A SHORTER SCHOOL YEAR                7%
CUTS IN EDUCATION FORCING LAYOFFS TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL          5%

                                                        Battleground
                                                           states

INCREASED TAXES ON ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES                    51%
INCREASED STATE INCOME OR SALES TAX                          27%
INCREASED LOCAL TAXES                                         5%
CUTS IN EDUCATION FORCING A SHORTER SCHOOL YEAR               7%
CUTS IN EDUCATION FORCING LAYOFFS TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL         6%

Note: Table made from bar graph.

WASTED MONEY

34% of all adults believe the money dedicated to education is wasted "a great deal"