Contact: Miguel A. Gonzalez   (202) 822-7823

June 19, 2007

American Public, Educators in Sync
on Changing No Child Left Behind

ETS survey finds public prefers smaller class sizes, more quality teachers

WASHINGTON -- A survey released today by Educational Testing Service finds strong public support for reauthorizing the federal No Child Left Behind law. "Standards, Accountability and Flexibility: Americans Speak on No Child Left Behind Reauthorization" also shows that teachers, school administrators and the American public want major changes when Congress rewrites the law.

The National Education Association is encouraged by these key findings in the public opinion poll:

• All groups surveyed -- the American public, teachers and administrators -- agree that lack of parental involvement is the biggest problem facing schools today; they cite inadequate funding as a close second.
• More than half of the public (57 percent) and nearly three-fourths of teachers (72 percent) believe funding should be increased for schools that fall short of meeting their annual academic targets; improved classroom conditions, more teachers and smaller class sizes are cited as preferred approaches.
• The public rejects one-size-fits-all solutions and school takeovers to fix struggling schools.

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Reg Weaver:

"The good news is that the American public and educators agree -- Congress needs to change No Child Left Behind. The survey findings show there's strong public support to provide America's educators with the tools and resources they need to get the job done. The survey results are consistent with the views of our members. Students need smaller class sizes, more quality teachers, and actively involved and engaged parents and community leaders to become future leaders and productive citizens. Congress has a shared responsibility -- along with parents, teachers and school leaders -- to enable students to succeed in the future. The decisions made now as Congress renews NCLB will set the agenda for achieving a quality education for every student."

NEA's positive agenda for the reauthorization of NCLB is available online here.  

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators
and students preparing to become teachers.