Download - What Washington Teachers Think About “Race to the Top” Issues Highlights From a Statewide Survey
What Washington Teachers Think About “Race to the Top” Issues
Highlights From a Statewide Survey
December 2009
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A Collaboration Between a Consortium of Non-Profits Advocating for Public Education In Washington
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Telephone Survey o 500 interviews with public K-12 teachers across the stateo Quotas set by age, gender, area of state, and school type
based on the total number of teachers to assure a representative sample
o Conducted November 14 to 15, 2009o Margin of error for n=500 is +/- 4.4%, at the 95% confidence
level
METHODOLOGY
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DEMOGRAPHICS
Demographic GroupStatewide
N=500Age
18-24 0%25-34 11%35-44 23%45-54 33%55-64 28%65+ 4%
GenderFemale 72%Male 28%
Area of StateKing County 21%Puget Sound 40%Southwestern Washington 14%Eastern Washington 26%
DEMOGRAPHICS
Demographic GroupStatewide
N=500School Type
Elementary (K-6) 48%Middle/Junior 20%K-8 2%High school 26%Other 3%Refused 0%
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Section 1: STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTSSection 2: DATA SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT
INSTRUCTIONSection 3: GREAT TEACHERS AND LEADERSSection 4: TURNING AROUND LOWEST ACHIEVING
SCHOOLS
SECTIONS
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STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTSDo you oppose or support the Obama administration’s priority of
adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace?
STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTSShould students who graduate from high school have the credits to
apply to one of Washington’s publically funded four year universities?
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STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTSDo you oppose or support raising high school graduation to 24
credits so that all high school graduates have the option of applying to college?
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DATA SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONDo you oppose or support the Obama administration’s priority of
building data systems that measure growth in student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their
practices?
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GREAT TEACHERS AND LEADERSDo you oppose or support the Obama administration’s priority of recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers
and leaders?
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GREAT TEACHERS AND LEADERSWe need a fair way to differentiate teacher and principal
effectiveness based on performance.
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GREAT TEACHERS AND LEADERSTeacher effectiveness should be the predominant factor when
making staffing decisions, such as placement, transfers, and reduction in force. That means seniority and other factors would
be secondary considerations.
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GREAT TEACHERS AND LEADERSReform teacher compensation, including higher starting teacher
pay, paying more to teachers for increased responsibility, growth in student achievement, and teaching in shortage subject areas like
math, science, and special education.
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GREAT TEACHERS AND LEADERS(split sample) Do you oppose or support extending the probationary
period of teachers to five years and allowing principals to grant, deny, or extend contracts based on evaluations?
Statewide (N=250)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
29% 31% 12% 14% 14%
Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat opposeStrongly oppose Don’t know
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GREAT TEACHERS AND LEADERSTeachers should have access to multiple career pathways including
increased compensation, instead of just receiving stipends or bonuses for taking on increased responsibility.
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TURNING AROUND LOWEST ACHIEVING SCHOOLSDo you oppose or support the Obama administration’s priority of
turning around the lowest performing schools?
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TURNING AROUND LOWEST ACHIEVING SCHOOLS(split sample) We need a comprehensive system of school improvement that includes voluntary and required actions for
schools that chronically underperform year after year.
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TURNING AROUND LOWEST ACHIEVING SCHOOLSLow performing schools should have more flexibility in their ability
to hire teachers.
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TURNING AROUND LOWEST ACHIEVING SCHOOLSEffective teachers who teach in high poverty schools should be
paid more than other teachers.
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TURNING AROUND LOWEST ACHIEVING SCHOOLSIncentives for teachers to teach in high poverty or troubled
schools.
Statewide
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
38% 46% 7%4%5%
Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly opposeDon’t know