Growing Awareness, Growing Support: Teacher

and Voter Understanding of the Common Core State

Standards & Assessments

June 2012

Methodology

On behalf of Achieve, Inc., Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research are pleased to present the key findings from a national survey of N=1,000 registered voters and N=500 K through 12 public school teachers.

The survey was conducted May 6-10, 2012 and has a margin of error of +3.1% among voters and +4.4% among teachers.

To help inform this survey, a series of eight focus groups (four among parents and four among teachers) were conducted in November-December 2011 to explore perceptions of, and reactions to, information related to the Common Core State Standards and assessments.

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Background

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In June 2010, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) – K-12 standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy developed through a multi-state initiative – were released.

Since then, 46 states and Washington DC have chosen to adopt the new standards as their own. Implementation efforts are now underway in most of these states.

45 states and Washington DC are working to develop common assessments aligned to the CCSS, which will allow for better cross-state comparisons and will measure whether students are on track to graduating ready for college and careers.

As states are working to transform their education systems with new standards and assessments – impacting curriculum, professional development, and, in many cases, teacher evaluation systems – it’s critical that stakeholders, including teachers and voters/parents, are increasingly aware of, understand, and support the changes.

To support states, Achieve has been monitoring awareness and support for CCSS implementation through nationally-commissioned polling.

Key Findings from Growing Awareness, Growing Support: Teacher and Public Understanding of the Common Core State Standards & Assessments

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Voters and teachers strongly support common standards and assessments. Voter support remains strong regardless of age, education level, race, ethnicity, or party affiliation.

There has been a significant increase in awareness of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) among teachers since August 2011, while awareness of the CCSS continues to be very low among the voting public.

The more teachers know about the CCSS, the more positive impression they have of the standards. Similarly, voters who are aware of the CCSS hold a favorable view of the standards.

A majority of both voters and teachers support new CCSS assessments, and support holds when more information on the assessments is provided.

However, there are mixed reactions to some specific likely components of the new assessments, although voters and teachers are fairly consistent in their views on the highest and lowest rated assessment components.

Common Core State Standards

Common Core State Standards

Since last summer, there has been virtually no change in voters saying they have heard about the Common Core State Standards.

However, teachers report a much greater level of awareness.Thinking about the last six months, how much have you seen, read or heard about these

Common Core State Standards?

A Lot/Some

Not Much/Nothing

60% Nothing

At All

A Lot/Some

Not Much/Nothing

60% Nothing

At All

A Lot/Some

46% A Lot

Not Much/Nothing

A Lot/Some

65% A Lot

Among Voters Among Teachers

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Common Core State Standards

Based on what they have seen, read or heard about the CCSS, teachers report a more favorable impression of the standards

compared to last summer.And, has what you have seen, read or heard recently about the Common Core State Standards given you

a favorable or unfavorable impression of the standards?

Fav Unfav

11% VeryFav Unfav Fav

24%Very

Unfav Fav

Voters Teachers

Unfav

Among Those Who Have Seen/Read/Heard about CCSS

No Impact

No Impact

No Impact

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Respondents were then provided with the following information

about the Common Core State Standards and asked if they

would favor or oppose their implementation:

Now, just so everyone taking this survey has the same information, let me tell you some more about these Common

Core State Standards.

These new standards have been set to internationally competitive levels in English and math. This means that

students may be more challenged by the material they study, and the tests they take will measure more advanced concepts

and require students to show their work.

Knowing this, do you favor or oppose implementing these new Common Core State Standards?

Common Core State Standards

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Just a brief description of the CCSS produces solid support for the standards.

Knowing this, do you favor or oppose implementing these new Common Core State Standards?

Fav Unfav

43% Strongly

Fav Unfav

45% Strongly

Fav

47%Strongly

Unfav Fav

33% Strongly

Among Voters Among Teachers

Unfav

Common Core State Standards

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Among voters, there is broad and deep support across the major sub-groups.

Knowing this, do you favor or oppose implementing these new Common Core State Standards?

Voter Sub-Groups StronglyFavor

TotalFavor

Male 46% 74%

Female 44% 79%

18-44 44% 78%

45+ 45% 75%

White 43% 76%

African American 45% 81%

Less Than College 46% 77%

College + 44% 76%

Republican 44% 75%

Independent 46% 75%

Democrat 45% 82%

Parents 46% 76%

Non-Parents 45% 77%

Urban 49% 76%

Suburb 47% 78%

Rural 36% 70%

Favor

45% Strongly

Oppose

Among Voters

Common Core State Standards

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The more teachers report having seen, read or heard about the Common Core State Standards, the more support and

enthusiasm they express for implementing them.Favor/Oppose Implementing CCSS Among Teachers

Favor

33% Strong

Oppose Favor

25% Strong

Oppose Favor

19% Strong

Oppose

18% Strong

By Seen, Read or Heard of CCSS

Favor

39% Strong

Oppose

Common Core State Standards

After hearing a brief description

of the CCSS

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Common Core State Standards

Assessments (CCSS Assessments)

Common Core State Standards Assessments

Respondents were provided with the following information about the development of new Common Core State Standards assessments and

asked if they would favor or oppose their implementation:

As the Common Core State Standards are being developed, new tests that will reflect the new standards are also being developed.

These new tests are being designed to help determine what students know and can do, and whether they are on track to

graduate from high school ready for college and career. Over time, these new tests would replace the current end of the year state

tests being given here in (INSERT STATE).

Knowing this, do you favor or oppose implementing these new tests?

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The brief description of new CCSS assessments results in majority support from voters and teachers.

Knowing this, do you favor or oppose implementing these new tests?

Among Voters Among Teachers

Favor

40% Strongly

Oppose Favor Oppose

25% Strongly

15% Strongly

Standards Favor

77%Oppose

15%

Standards Favor

72%Oppose

20%

Common Core State Standards Assessments

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Among voters, there is solid support for the assessments

across all the major sub-groups.

Favor/Oppose Implementing CCSS Assessments Among Voters

Voter Sub-GroupsStrongly

FavorTotal Favor

Male 41% 75%

Female 39% 73%

18-44 36% 74%

45+ 43% 73%

White 38% 75%

African American 43% 68%

Less Than College 43% 75%

College + 36% 72%

Republican 43% 80%Independent 38% 69%

Democrat 42% 76%

Parents 40% 75%

Non-Parents 40% 74%

Urban 41% 74%

Suburb 41% 77%Rural 34% 70%

Favor

40% Strongly

Oppose

Common Core State Standards Assessments

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Again, the more teachers are aware of the Common Core State Standards, the more likely they are to support new

CCSS assessments.Favor/Oppose Implementing CCSS Assessments Among Teachers

Favor

25% Strong

Oppose Favor

14% Strong

Oppose Favor

9% Strong

Oppose

23% Strong

By Seen, Read or Heard of CCSS

Favor

31% Strong

Oppose

16% Strong

14% Strong

15% Strong

Common Core State Standards Assessments

After hearing a brief description

of the CCSS assessments

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Respondents were read 14 different components of the CCSS assessments (as contemplated by the states in the PARCC consortia) and asked to rate each of them on a scale from zero to ten, where zero means it would be a

very bad idea and ten means it would be a very good idea.

The components were read in logical order, so participants were guided step-by-step through the various elements of the assessments.

“I would like to get your reaction to the various components and features of the new tests. Please rate each of the following using a scale from zero to ten, where zero means you think this would be a very bad idea and ten

means you think this would be a very good idea. Of course, you can choose any number from zero to ten.”

Reactions To Elements of The CCSS Assessments

0

1

28

7

65 4

3

910

Goo

d Bad

Common Core State Standards Assessments

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Teachers offer lower scores across the board. However, voters and teachers agree on most of the components they score highest and

lowest.The Components Mean

Results will be available within 1-2 weeks 8.3

1st optional test will be diagnostic 8.3

2nd optional test will require work to be shown 8.0

Tests would be the same across states 7.9

1 required test multiple choice & open-ended 7.9

1 required test would emphasize performance 7.8

Developed with education/test experts and teachers 7.7

Used for placement into entry-level college classes 7.6

2 required tests will be given at the end of the year 7.6

2 required tests would replace current tests 7.5

Measure progress in CCSS in English and Math 7.4

2 required tests will be for accountability purposes 6.9

Test will be given throughout the year 6.5

Students will take all the tests on the computer 6.4

Among VotersThe Components Mean

Results will be available within 1-2 weeks 8.2

Developed with education/test experts and teachers 7.6

1st optional test will be diagnostic 7.5

Tests would be the same across states 7.2

Used for placement into entry-level college classes 7.1

2nd optional test will require work to be shown 7.1

Measure progress in CCSS in English and Math 7.0

1 required test multiple choice & open-ended 6.9

2 required tests would replace current tests 6.7

1 required test would emphasize performance 6.5

2 required tests will be given at the end of the year 6.4

Test will be given throughout the year 5.7

Students will take all the tests on the computer 5.2

2 required tests will be for accountability purposes 3.7

Among Teachers

Common Core State Standards Assessments

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Common Core State Standards Assessments

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Overall, voters are more supportive of the various elements of the CCSS assessments than teachers. The majority of voters rate 10 or more of the

14 elements as a “good idea” compared to just one-third of teachers.

Number of Elements of CCSS Assessments Rated 8 or better (1-10 scale)

Among Voters Among Teachers

10-14 of 14(Supporters)

5-9 of 14(“Swing Voters”)

5-9 of 14(“Swing Voters”)

10-14 of 14(Opponents)10-14 of 14

(Opponents)

53% 34%

27% 30%

21% 36%

After hearing more about the CCSS assessments, voters offer an even more favorable impression of the tests and teachers hold steady with

their opinions.

Favor

40% Strongly

Oppose Favor

25% Strongly

Oppose

15% Strongly

Favor

47% Strongly

Oppose Favor

22% Strongly

Oppose

16% Strongly

Among Voters Among Teachers

Common Core State Standards Assessments

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The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

As schools begin implementing Common Core State Standards and new assessments, there is majority support from voters and teachers alike.

Importantly, the more teachers know about the CCSS, the more likely they are to support implementing the standards and the new assessments. Teacher knowledge has grown significantly over the last six months.

It is possible that as states and districts move from the CCSS being an idea to reality with implementation, overall support may slip. But how much it slips may be dependent on how strong the implementation plan is – and how well that plan is communicated.

Ongoing and sustained communications is key to maintaining and building lasting support for both teachers and voters.

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Bottom Line

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It is critical to sustain or ramp up efforts to educate teachers—including what the implementation plan is and what teachers can expect. Focus groups with teachers reinforce the importance of good professional development, aligned materials, and their desire to collaborate with colleagues.

Voters also need to become increasingly aware of the CCSS and what it means for students and parents. What will be different? How will the expectations change? What kind of support will be available? Voters, like teachers, also need to understand how these changes fit into the broader reform agenda, why it’s important, and the value of the new standards to our education system and economy.

Achieve is a bipartisan, non-profit organization that helps states raise academic standards, improve

assessments, and strengthen accountability to prepare all young people for college, careers and life.

For more information, see www.achieve.org/