HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 12, 2013 – A majority of North Carolina residents say they trust their school’s teachers and principals, but they also favor evaluating those teachers on how well students perform on standardized tests.
The HPU Poll asked respondents if they trusted the principals and teachers in public schools. Fifty-four percent said they trust the principals, while 22 percent did not and 24 percent weren’t sure. As for teachers, 58 percent said they trust public school teachers, 23 percent said they did not and 20 percent weren’t sure.
The poll also found 52 percent of respondents favor requiring teacher evaluations to include how well a teacher’s students performed on standardized tests, and 37 percent opposed. However, only 42 percent favored newspapers releasing that information to the public, while 45 percent opposed it.
“It’s encouraging to see that citizens of N.C. recognize the hard work and commitment of teachers and principals in our schools,” says Dr. Barbara Mallory, associate professor of educational leadership. “We hope this expression of public support for educators will encourage legislators to make investments in keeping teachers and principals in N.C.”
All Adults – Trust in Principals
Do you have trust and confidence in the men and women who serve as principals in the public schools?
Yes – 54 percent
No – 22 percent
Not sure – 24 percent
(All adult (North Carolina resident) sample surveyed Dec. 2 – 5, 2013, n = 600 and margin of sampling error approximately = +/- 4.1 percent)
All Adults – Trust in Teachers
Do you have trust and confidence in the men and women who are teaching children in the public schools?
Yes – 58 percent
No – 23 percent
Not sure – 20 percent
(All adult (North Carolina resident) sample surveyed Dec. 2 – 5, 2013, n = 600 and margin of sampling error approximately = +/- 4.1 percent)
All Adults – Teacher Evaluations
Some states require that teacher evaluations include how well a teacher’s students perform on standardized tests. Do you favor or oppose this requirement?
Favor – 52 percent
Oppose – 37 percent
Not Sure – 11 percent
(All adult (North Carolina resident) sample surveyed Dec. 2 – 5, 2013, n = 600 and margin of sampling error approximately = +/- 4.1 percent)
All Adults – Newspaper Release
Some newspapers are releasing information about how the students of individual teachers perform on standardized tests. Do you favor or oppose the release of this information to the public?
Favor – 42 percent
Oppose – 45 percent
Not sure – 13 percent
(All adult (North Carolina resident) sample surveyed Dec. 2 – 5, 2013, n = 600 and margin of sampling error approximately = +/- 4.1 percent)
The new automated phone survey, fielded through SurveyUSA, interviewed 600 state of North Carolina adults Dec. 2 – 5, 2013. This research was conducted using blended sample, mixed mode. Respondents reachable on a home telephone (68 percent of adults) were interviewed on their home telephone in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home telephone (32 percent of adults), were shown a questionnaire on their smartphone, laptop, tablet or other electronic device.
Additional methodological explanation is available from SurveyUSA: http://www.surveyusa.com/client/methodology.aspx?g=d89aa88d-287f-4255-9687-db101bde0c3e
Additional details including crosstabs of these questions are available at the High Point
University Survey Research Center website: http://www.highpoint.edu/src/
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