Education Resources
Find out how to help improve schools and education initiatives across the country with the following organizations.
Stand UpStand Up is a community-based response to America’s education crisis. They are parents, students, and everyday citizens who "Stand Up" for better high schools.
- Visit www.standup.org
In 2000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was created to help reduce inequities in four primary areas, including education. The education program seeks to ensure that all students in the United States graduate from high school ready for college, work, and citizenship.
- Visit www.gatesfoundation.org
DonorsChoose is an online charity that allows teachers in needy school districts to post educational materials and resources that they need for their classrooms. Donors can search the listings and decide what they want to support.
- Visit www.donorschoose.org
In March 2006, Time magazine teamed up with The Oprah Winfrey Show to poll 1,000 Americans—of all ages, classes and races—about their views on the educational system and high school dropouts. How do your views compare?
1. Where do you think the United States ranks internationally when it comes to the quality of education we provide overall? Would you say that the United States is best when it comes to quality of education, in the top 5, top 10, top 20, or below that?
2. In general, what grade would you give public schools in the United States—an "A" for excellent, a "B", "C", "D" or a failing grade of "F"?
3. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the public schools in this country?
4. Do you think that public schools in this country are in a "crisis," or not?
1. Where do you think the United States ranks internationally when it comes to the quality of education we provide overall? Would you say that the United States is best when it comes to quality of education, in the top 5, top 10, top 20, or below that?
| Best | 3% |
| Top 5 | 25% |
| Top 10 | 29% |
| Top 20 | 22% |
| Below that | 17% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
2. In general, what grade would you give public schools in the United States—an "A" for excellent, a "B", "C", "D" or a failing grade of "F"?
| A (excellent) | 5% |
| B | 31% |
| C | 44% |
| D | 10% |
| F (failing grade) | 7% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
3. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the public schools in this country?
| Satisfied | 39% |
| Dissatisfied | 55% |
| No answer/don't know | 6% |
4. Do you think that public schools in this country are in a "crisis," or not?
| In crisis | 61% |
| Not in crisis | 34% |
| No answer/don't know | 5% |
5. Do you think that we are spending too much money on public schools, too little money, or about the right amount of money on public schools?
6. Would you be willing to pay higher taxes to improve the public schools, or not?
7. How do public schools today compare to, say, 20 years ago? In your opinion, are they better, worse, or about the same as they were 20 years ago?
8. Do you think that the public schools overall are teaching students the skills they will need for our economy in the 21st century, or not?
9. Do you have any children in your household currently attending school, grades "K" thru grade 12?
10. Do any currently attend public schools? (Respondents: 323 out of 1,000)
| Too much | 10% |
| Too little | 64% |
| About the right amount | 22% |
| No answer/don't know | 4% |
6. Would you be willing to pay higher taxes to improve the public schools, or not?
| Willing to pay higher taxes | 59% |
| Not willing | 38% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
7. How do public schools today compare to, say, 20 years ago? In your opinion, are they better, worse, or about the same as they were 20 years ago?
| Better | 26% |
| Worse | 52% |
| Same | 18% |
| No answer/don't know | 5% |
8. Do you think that the public schools overall are teaching students the skills they will need for our economy in the 21st century, or not?
| Teaching skills they will need | 38% |
| Not teaching them | 57% |
| No answer/don't know | 6% |
9. Do you have any children in your household currently attending school, grades "K" thru grade 12?
| Yes | 36% |
| No | 64% |
10. Do any currently attend public schools? (Respondents: 323 out of 1,000)
| Yes | 86% |
| No | 14% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
11. And what grade would you give your child's school—an "A" for excellent, a "B", "C", "D" or a failing grade of "F"? (Respondents: 279 out of 1,000)
12. Do you think that your child or children attending public schools are being adequately prepared for college if they decide to go to college? (Respondents: 279 out of 1,000)
13. If you had the choice of sending your child to a different school, in your area, would you switch schools, or not? (Respondents: 279 out of 1,000)
14. What percent of American students do you think graduate from high school?
15. How serious a problem do you consider the school dropout rate in America to be?
| A (excellent) | 23% |
| B | 46% |
| C | 21% |
| D | 7% |
| F (failing grade) | 3% |
| No answer/don't know | less than 1% |
12. Do you think that your child or children attending public schools are being adequately prepared for college if they decide to go to college? (Respondents: 279 out of 1,000)
| Yes | 62% |
| No | 33% |
| No answer/don't know | 6% |
13. If you had the choice of sending your child to a different school, in your area, would you switch schools, or not? (Respondents: 279 out of 1,000)
| Would switch schools | 40% |
| Not switch schools | 57% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
14. What percent of American students do you think graduate from high school?
| 0 to 25% | 2% |
| 26 to 50% | 9% |
| 51to 75% | 49% |
| 76 to 100% | 35% |
| No answer/don't know | 4% |
15. How serious a problem do you consider the school dropout rate in America to be?
| Extremely serious | 42% |
| Somewhat serious | 47% |
| Not very serious | 5% |
| Not serious at all | 3% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
16. Here are some measures that have been suggested to increase the number of children graduating from high school.
A) Make truancy enforcement stronger to cut down on the number of children skipping school without an excuse. Would this measure be…
B) Increase parental involvement by offering training to parents on how to keep their children in school. Would this measure be…
C) Lower academic standards so that more children can graduate. Would this measure be…
D) Outlaw dropping out of school under the age of 18. Would this measure be…
E) Penalize the parents of students who don't finish high school. Would this measure be…
17. Did you yourself complete high school or did you drop out of school? If you dropped out of school, but got a G.E.D., please tell me.
A) Make truancy enforcement stronger to cut down on the number of children skipping school without an excuse. Would this measure be…
| Very effective | 46% |
| Somewhat effective | 37% |
| Not very effective | 9% |
| Not at all effective | 7% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
B) Increase parental involvement by offering training to parents on how to keep their children in school. Would this measure be…
| Very effective | 50% |
| Somewhat effective | 37% |
| Not very effective | 6% |
| Not at all effective | 6% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
C) Lower academic standards so that more children can graduate. Would this measure be…
| Very effective | 7% |
| Somewhat effective | 13% |
| Not very effective | 18% |
| Not at all effective | 60% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
D) Outlaw dropping out of school under the age of 18. Would this measure be…
| Very effective | 33% |
| Somewhat effective | 31% |
| Not very effective | 18% |
| Not at all effective | 16% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
E) Penalize the parents of students who don't finish high school. Would this measure be…
| Very effective | 18% |
| Somewhat effective | 27% |
| Not very effective | 27% |
| Not at all effective | 27% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
17. Did you yourself complete high school or did you drop out of school? If you dropped out of school, but got a G.E.D., please tell me.
| Completed high school | 87% |
| Dropped out, but got a G.E.D. | 7% |
| Dropped out | 5% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
18. Do you regret dropping out of school, or not? (Respondents: 121 out of 1,000)
19. Did you ever consider dropping out of high school? (Respondents: 879 out of 1,000)
20. Which of the following best describes the main reason you [dropped out/considered dropping out] of school? (Respondents: 205 out of 1,000)
| Regretted | 70% |
| Not regret | 28% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
19. Did you ever consider dropping out of high school? (Respondents: 879 out of 1,000)
| Yes, considered | 11% |
| No, did not consider | 89% |
| No answer/don't know | less than 1% |
20. Which of the following best describes the main reason you [dropped out/considered dropping out] of school? (Respondents: 205 out of 1,000)
| Your school wasn't very good | 7% |
| You were not really motivated to finish school | 18% |
| Your class work was too difficult | 3% |
| You had problems at home | 17% |
| You needed to work to earn money | 18% |
| Pregnancy | 8% |
| Illness | 1% |
| Military/draft | 1% |
| Marriage | 1% |
| Some other reason (specify) | 24% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
21. Which of the following describes the main reason you finished high school? (Respondents: 873 out of 1,000)
22. Please tell me how important each of the following reasons are for why many students drop out of high school.
1) The schools they attend and the teachers aren't very good.
2) The students are not motivated.
3) Class work is too difficult.
4) They have problems at home.
5) They need to work to earn money.
23. Some people who dropped out of school can take tests to earn a general education development certificate or G.E.D.. In your view, is a G.E.D. as good as a high school diploma or not?
| Your parents' or family member's involvement and encouragement | 26% |
| Your own desire to succeed or go to college | 46% |
| Both | 26% |
| Neither | 2% |
| No answer/don't know | less than 1% |
22. Please tell me how important each of the following reasons are for why many students drop out of high school.
1) The schools they attend and the teachers aren't very good.
| Extremely important | 14% |
| Very important | 25% |
| Somewhat important | 33% |
| Not very important | 25% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
2) The students are not motivated.
| Extremely important | 27% |
| Very important | 39% |
| Somewhat important | 21% |
| Not very important | 11% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
3) Class work is too difficult.
| Extremely important | 4% |
| Very important | 11% |
| Somewhat important | 29% |
| Not very important | 54% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
4) They have problems at home.
| Extremely important | 25% |
| Very important | 39% |
| Somewhat important | 25% |
| Not very important | 9% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
5) They need to work to earn money.
| Extremely important | 12% |
| Very important | 20% |
| Somewhat important | 39% |
| Not very important | 27% |
| No answer/don't know | 2% |
23. Some people who dropped out of school can take tests to earn a general education development certificate or G.E.D.. In your view, is a G.E.D. as good as a high school diploma or not?
| As good as a high school diploma | 37% |
| Not as good | 60% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
24. Do you think a G.E.D. certificate provides high school dropouts as many opportunities as a high school diploma does, or not?
25. In your opinion, at what age should students be allowed to drop out of school?
26. Do you think that the government should forbid students younger than 18 from dropping out of high school?
27. If a student younger than 18 chooses to leave school, should the state be allowed to deny them driver's licenses until they turn 18, or not?
28. And if a student younger than 18 dropped out of school, should the state be allowed to deny them child work permits, or not?
29. Should the federal government pass laws making it illegal in all states to leave high school before the age of 16?
30. In your opinion, should all students be required to pursue a college track in high school or should students be offered the option of taking vocational education to prepare them for work immediately following high school?
| Provides as many opportunities | 29% |
| Does not | 64% |
| Depends/sometimes yes/sometimes no | 4% |
| No answer/don't know | 4% |
25. In your opinion, at what age should students be allowed to drop out of school?
| 10 to 15 | 1% |
| 16 | 12% |
| 17 | 11% |
| 18 | 38% |
| 19 to 21 | 6% |
| Should not be allowed | 26% |
| No answer/don't know | 6% |
26. Do you think that the government should forbid students younger than 18 from dropping out of high school?
| Yes, should forbid | 62% |
| No, should not forbid | 35% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
27. If a student younger than 18 chooses to leave school, should the state be allowed to deny them driver's licenses until they turn 18, or not?
| Yes, state should be allowed to deny | 65% |
| No, state should not be allowed to deny | 32% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
28. And if a student younger than 18 dropped out of school, should the state be allowed to deny them child work permits, or not?
| Yes, state should be allowed to deny | 33% |
| No, state should not be allowed to deny | 64% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
29. Should the federal government pass laws making it illegal in all states to leave high school before the age of 16?
| Yes, should make illegal | 69% |
| No, should not | 28% |
| No answer/don't know | 3% |
30. In your opinion, should all students be required to pursue a college track in high school or should students be offered the option of taking vocational education to prepare them for work immediately following high school?
| All students required to pursue college track | 8% |
| Should be offered vocation education option | 88% |
| No answer/don't know | 4% |
31. Do you think that schools today should spend more on vocational education, less, or are they spending about the right amount now?
32. In your opinion, do you think that there is too much emphasis on standardized achievement testing in the public schools in your community, too little, or about the right amount?
33. In 2001, Congress passed President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act. How much would you say that you know about the "No Child Left Behind" act?
34. Based on anything you may have seen or heard, do you think that the "No Child Left Behind" act has had a positive impact on education, a negative impact, or not much impact at all?
35. Who or what is most to blame when some public schools fail to improve test scores?
| Spend more | 51% |
| Spend less | 4% |
| About the right amount now | 33% |
| No answer/don't know | 12% |
32. In your opinion, do you think that there is too much emphasis on standardized achievement testing in the public schools in your community, too little, or about the right amount?
| Too much | 44% |
| Too little | 11% |
| About the right amount | 39% |
| No answer/don't know | 6% |
33. In 2001, Congress passed President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act. How much would you say that you know about the "No Child Left Behind" act?
| Great deal | 17% |
| Some | 40% |
| Not much | 29% |
| Nothing at all | 14% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
34. Based on anything you may have seen or heard, do you think that the "No Child Left Behind" act has had a positive impact on education, a negative impact, or not much impact at all?
| Positive | 35% |
| Negative | 23% |
| Not much impact | 35% |
| No answer/don't know | 8% |
35. Who or what is most to blame when some public schools fail to improve test scores?
| Not enough money | 24% |
| School districts | 21% |
| Parents | 18% |
| Students | 14% |
| Teachers | 11% |
| No answer/don't know | 11% |
Demographics of Respondents:
What is your gender?
What is your age?
What is the highest grade of schooling that you've completed?
Are you of Hispanic origin or descent?
What is your race? Are you white, black, Asian, or something else?
What was your total family income before taxes last year?
What is your gender?
| Male | 48% |
| Female | 52% |
What is your age?
| 18-24 | 11% |
| 25-29 | 8% |
| 30-34 | 10% |
| 35-39 | 8% |
| 40-44 | 13% |
| 45-54 | 19% |
| 55-64 | 13% |
| 65 or older | 17% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
What is the highest grade of schooling that you've completed?
| 8th grade or less | 2% |
| Some high school | 9% |
| High school graduate | 21% |
| Some college | 28% |
| College graduate | 25% |
| Postgraduate study/law or medical school | 14% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
Are you of Hispanic origin or descent?
| Yes | 10% |
| No | 89% |
| No answer/don't know | 1% |
What is your race? Are you white, black, Asian, or something else?
| White | 76% |
| Black | 11% |
| Asian | 2% |
| Hispanic | 6% |
| Other | 5% |
| Don't know/no answer | 1% |
What was your total family income before taxes last year?
| Less than $20,000 | 11% |
| $20,000 to just under $35,000 | 18% |
| $35,000 to just under $50,000 | 18% |
| $50,000 to just under $75,000 | 16% |
| $75,000 to just under $100,000 | 12% |
| $100,000 or more | 16% |
| No answer/don't know | 9% |
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