14. (Asked of parents of school-age children) How often do you help your children do homework assignments — nearly every day, once or twice a week, or less often than that?

	Nearly every day	Once/twice a week	Less often than that	Don’t know
Parents	59	27	13	1

15. (Asked of parents of school-age children) How often do you meet with your children's teachers — once a month, a few times a year, or only rarely?

	Once a month	A few times a year	Only rarely	Never (vol.)	Don’t Know
Parents	35	50	12	1	1

16. (Asked of parents of school-age children) Do you feel your oldest child's teachers have a good understanding of your child's academic abilities and weaknesses, or not?

	Yes	No	Don’t Know
Parents	83	16	1

17. (Asked of parents of school-age children) How about your child's overall development and happiness? Do you feel your oldest child's teachers have a good understanding, or not?

	Yes	No	Don’t Know
Parents	78	20	1

18A. (Asked of half sample of parents of school-age children) How much influence do you think you have over your children's education – a great deal, quite a lot, some, or not much at all?

	Great deal	Quite a lot	Some	Not much	Don’t know
Parents	54	24	15	6	-

18B. (Asked of half sample of parents of school-age children) When you participated in school events, did you feel teachers and school officials encouraged you to do so, or not?

	Yes	No	Don’t Know
Parents	82	18	1

19A. (Asked of half sample) Here is a list of problems schools might face. For each one, please tell me how big a problem you think it is — a major problem, a minor problem, or not a problem for the public schools in your community. How about… ?

TOTAL:

	Major	Minor	Not a problem	Don’t know
a. Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	50	38	11	2
b. Lack of adequate academic standards	32	40	25	3
c. Overcrowded classrooms	47	31	19	2
d. Discrimination against children because of race or gender	18	43	35	3
e. Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	21	39	37	2
f. Lack of computers and technology	24	40	32	4
g. Violence and lack of school safety	35	43	21	1
h. Lack of parental involvement	55	27	16	2
i. Poor quality teachers	26	46	26	2
j. Student use of alcohol or illegal drugs	51	37	8	3
k. Poor school administration	27	44	25	4
l. Inequality in funding among school districts	34	37	23	7

PARENTS:

	Major	Minor	Not a problem	Don’t know
a. Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	40	43	17	*
b. Lack of adequate academic standards	27	39	32	1
c. Overcrowded classrooms	44	32	24	1
d. Discrimination against children because of race or gender	18	40	40	3
e. Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	18	37	45	1
f. Lack of computers and technology	24	39	36	1
g. Violence and lack of school safety	31	39	30	*
h. Lack of parental involvement	43	31	23	2
i. Poor quality teachers	21	46	32	1
j. Student use of alcohol or illegal drugs	44	34	19	3
k. Poor school administration	23	42	33	2
l. Inequality in funding among school districts	36	37	22	5

NON-PARENTS:

	Major	Minor	Not a problem	Don’t know
a. Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	54	36	8	3
b. Lack of adequate academic standards	33	41	23	4
c. Overcrowded classrooms	49	31	17	3
d. Discrimination against children because of race or gender	18	45	34	3
e. Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	23	39	35	3
f. Lack of computers and technology	24	39	32	5
g. Violence and lack of school safety	37	45	17	2
h. Lack of parental involvement	60	25	13	2
i. Poor quality teachers	29	46	23	3
j. Student use of alcohol or illegal drugs	54	39	3	3
k. Poor school administration	30	43	22	5
l. Inequality in funding among school districts	32	37	23	8

19A/ 20A. Of the problems you cited, which one is the BIGGEST problem facing schools in your community? SUMMARY:

	Total	Parents	Non-Parents
Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	11	8	13
Lack of adequate academic standards	3	3	3
Overcrowded classrooms	7	9	6
Discrimination against children because of race or gender	3	3	3
Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	*	1	*
Lack of computers and technology	2	2	2
Violence and lack of school safety	6	8	5
Lack of parental involvement	22	16	24
Poor quality teachers	4	4	3
Student use of alcohol and illegal drugs	15	12	16
Poor school administration	4	4	4
Inequality in funding among school districts	8	10	7
No major problems	13	18	10
Don’t Know	2	1	2

19B. (Asked of half sample) Now I am going to read you a list of problems schools might face. For each one, please tell me how big a problem you think it is — a major problem, a minor problem, or not a problem for the public schools in the nation as a whole. How about… ?

TOTAL:

	Major	Minor	Not a problem	Don’t know
a. Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	73	23	3	2
b. Lack of adequate academic standards	50	37	11	2
c. Overcrowded classrooms	61	29	8	2
d. Discrimination against children because of race or gender	33	45	20	2
e. Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	37	44	16	3
f. Lack of computers and technology	30	48	19	2
g. Violence and lack of school safety	64	29	6	1
h. Lack of parental involvement	78	16	5	1
i. Poor quality teachers	34	48	15	3
j. Student use of alcohol or illegal drugs	69	24	5	2
k. Poor school administration	42	42	13	4
l. Inequality in funding among school districts	51	33	10	6

PARENTS:

	Major	Minor	Not a problem	Don’t know
a. Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	71	24	5	1
b. Lack of adequate academic standards	46	40	12	1
c. Overcrowded classrooms	64	28	7	1
d. Discrimination against children because of race or gender	33	44	22	2
e. Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	36	43	18	2
f. Lack of computers and technology	32	47	19	1
g. Violence and lack of school safety	63	26	10	1
h. Lack of parental involvement	68	23	7	2
i. Poor quality teachers	33	51	15	1
j. Student use of alcohol or illegal drugs	62	27	9	2
k. Poor school administration	41	43	14	3
l. Inequality in funding among school districts	54	30	12	4

NON- PARENTS:

	Major	Minor	Not a problem	Don’t know
a. Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	74	23	2	2
b. Lack of adequate academic standards	53	35	10	3
c. Overcrowded classrooms	59	30	9	2
d. Discrimination against children because of race or gender	32	47	19	2
e. Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	37	44	15	4
f. Lack of computers and technology	29	49	20	2
g. Violence and lack of school safety	63	31	5	1
h. Lack of parental involvement	82	13	4	1
i. Poor quality teachers	35	47	14	4
j. Student use of alcohol or illegal drugs	73	22	3	2
k. Poor school administration	43	41	12	4
l. Inequality in funding among school districts	49	35	9	7

19B/20B. Of the problems you cited, which one is the BIGGEST problem facing schools in the nation as a whole? SUMMARY:

	Total	Parents	Non-Parents
Students who are undisciplined and disruptive	11	11	12
Lack of adequate academic standards	4	4	5
Overcrowded classrooms	6	6	6
Discrimination against children because of race or gender	3	2	3
Public school facilities that are unsafe or unhealthy	1	1	1
Lack of computers and technology	1	2	1
Violence and lack of school safety	12	16	10
Lack of parental involvement	24	20	26
Poor quality teachers	4	3	4
Student use of alcohol and illegal drugs	17	14	18
Poor school administration	5	7	5
Inequality in funding among school districts	6	7	6
No major problems	3	7	1
Don’t Know	2	1	2

21A. Which is a more important role for schools — to give students academic skills and other knowledge to prepare them for a job, a career, or college OR to develop students' character so they can make responsible decisions as adults in society about such things as drugs, sex, family, and money?

	Academic skills and knowledge	Character development	Both(vol.)	Don’t Know
Total	52	34	13	1
Parents	51	33	16	1
Non-parents	51	36	12	1

21B. Which of the following two statements comes closer to your view: Schools need to return to their main function of giving knowledge to students, OR schools need to focus on teaching children how to think critically rather than worrying about how much detailed knowledge they have?

	Giving knowledge	Critical thinking	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	Don’t Know
7/19/99	56	35	7	1	1
Parents	58	35	6	*	2
Non-parents	55	36	8	1	1

21C. Which of the following two statements comes closer to your view: Schools have gotten too far away from the basics, like reading, writing, and math, OR schools need to teach about a broader range of subjects than they used to, because the world is more complex today?

	Too far from basics	Teach broader range	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	Don’t Know
Total	52	41	5	1	1
Parents	49	44	5	1	1
Non-parents	53	40	5	1	1

21D. As you look back on your elementary and high school education, is it your impression that children today get a better or worse education than you did?

	Better	Worse	Same	Don’t Know
Total	48	42	7	4
Parents	52	37	9	3
Non-parents	46	44	6	4

22A. (Asked of half sample) In your opinion, how much does the amount of money spent on a public school student's education affect the quality of his or her education—a great deal, quite a lot, not too much, or not at all?

	A Great deal	Quite a lot	Not too much	Not at all	Don’t know
Total	37	28	25	6	4
Parents	45	27	21	5	2
Non-parents	33	28	28	7	4

22B.(Asked of half sample) How do you feel about the placement of students with learning problems in the local public schools? In your opinion, should students with learning problems be placed in the same classes as other students, or should they be placed in separate classes?

	Same classes	Separate classes	Don’t know
Total	35	57	8
Parents	39	54	7
Non-parents	33	59	8

23. Here is a short list of changes some people have suggested might improve the public schools. Please tell me whether you favor or oppose making each of the following changes in your community to improve your public schools.

TOTAL:

	Favor			Oppose			Don’t know
	NET	Strongly	Not strongly	NET	Not strongly	Strongly
a. Requiring schools to teach values/morality	73	55	18	26	13	13	2
b. Making students meet adequate academic standards to be promoted/ graduate	94	85	8	6	2	4	1
c. Holding parents accountable when their children are disruptive	79	67	12	20	9	11	2
d. Requiring teachers to pass standardized competency test	89	77	12	10	5	5	1

PARENTS:

	Favor			Oppose			Don’t know
	NET	Strongly	Not strongly	NET	Not strongly	Strongly
a. Requiring schools to teach values/morality	76	59	17	24	12	12	1
b. Making students meet adequate academic standards to be promoted / graduate	96	87	8	4	2	2	1
c. Holding parents accountable when their children are disruptive	79	67	12	20	9	11	1
d. Requiring teachers to pass standardized competency test	94	82	12	6	3	3	-

NON-PARENTS:

	Favor			Oppose			Don’t know
	NET	Strongly	Not strongly	NET	Not strongly	Strongly
a. Requiring schools to teach values / morality	72	54	18	26	13	13	2
b. Making students meet adequate academic standards to be promoted / graduate	93	84	9	6	2	4	1
c. Holding parents accountable when their children are disruptive	79	67	12	19	9	10	2
d. Requiring teachers to pass standardized competency test	87	75	12	11	6	6	1

24. Here is a short list of possible changes that could cost more money and require additional tax dollars. Please tell me if you would favor or oppose making each of the following changes in your community to improve your public schools. Do you (favor/oppose) strongly or not strongly?

TOTAL:

	Favor			Oppose			Don’t know
	NET	Strongly	Not strongly	NET	Not strongly	Strongly
a. Paying teachers more	77	60	17	20	9	11	3
b. Placing more computers in classroom	81	61	20	16	8	8	2
c. Reducing class sizes	86	69	16	13	7	6	1
d. Fixing run-down schools	92	80	12	7	3	4	1
e. Adding more security at schools	76	53	23	22	13	9	2

PARENTS:

	Favor			Oppose			Don’t know
	NET	Strongly	Not strongly	NET	Not strongly	Strongly
a. Paying teachers more	80	63	16	18	8	10	2
b. Placing more computers in classroom	86	71	15	12	7	6	1
c. Reducing class sizes	90	75	15	10	5	5	*
d. Fixing run-down schools	94	84	10	6	2	3	1
e. Adding more security at schools	81	58	23	18	11	8	1

NON-PARENTS:

	Favor			Oppose			Don’t know
	NET	Strongly	Not strongly	NET	Not strongly	Strongly
a. Paying teachers more	75	58	17	21	10	11	4
b. Placing more computers in classroom	78	56	23	19	9	9	3
c. Reducing class sizes	84	66	17	15	7	7	1
d. Fixing run-down schools	91	78	13	8	3	5	1
e. Adding more security at schools	74	51	24	24	13	10	2

25. To pay for this/these change(s), would you be willing to raise your taxes by... $100?... $200... $500 per year?

	Total	Parents	Non-parents
Willing to raise taxes by $500	55	59	53
Willing to raise taxes by $200 but not $500	20	20	20
Willing to raise taxes by $100 but not $200	9	8	10
Not willing to raise taxes by $100 or oppose all changes	16	12	17

27A. (Asked of half sample) Do you think elementary school students of different ability levels should be grouped together in the same classes, or separated into different classes based on their ability?

	Grouped together	Separated	Don’t know
Total	43	53	4
Parents	41	55	4
Non-parents	43	53	4

27B. (Asked of half sample) Do you think high school students of different ability levels should be grouped together in the same classes, or separated into different classes based on their ability?

	Grouped together	Separated	Don’t know
Total	45	51	4
Parents	43	54	3
Non-parents	46	50	4

28A. (Asked of half sample) Do you think that the amount of money that goes to education in your state should or should not be the same for all students, even if it means taking funding from some wealthy school districts and giving it to poor districts?

	Should	Should not	Don’t Know
Total	83	14	3
Parents	84	15	2
Non-parents	83	14	3

28B. (Asked of half sample) Should wealthy school districts be allowed to spend as much as they want on their schools, or should their spending be capped so that poor districts are not left behind?

	Spend as much as they want	Not spend as much as they want	Don’t Know
Total	27	69	5
Parents	25	71	4
Non-parents	28	67	5

29. All schools give their students standardized tests from time to time. Do you think standardized tests should or should not be used for the following purposes?

TOTAL

	Should	Should not	Don’t know
a. To determine level of funding each local school receives	39	57	4
b. To identify areas in which teachers need improvement	89	9	2
c. To identify areas where students need help	95	4	1
d. To determine whether students are promoted/ graduate	69	30	1
e. To rate/ rank schools	58	39	2
f. Used by employers when student graduates/applies for a job	38	59	3
g. To ensure students meet adequate natl. academic standards	87	12	1

PARENTS

	Should be used	Should not be used	Don’t know
a. To determine level of funding each local school receives	38	59	3
b. To identify areas in which teachers need improvement	89	10	1
c. To identify areas where students need help	95	4	*
d. To determine whether students are promoted/ graduate	67	32	1
e. To rate/ rank schools	57	42	1
f. Used by employers when student graduates/applies for a job	38	59	3
g. To ensure students meet adequate national academic standards	86	14	1

NON-PARENTS

	Should be used	Should not be used	Don’t know
a. To determine level of funding each local school receives	39	56	5
b. To identify areas in which teachers need improvement	89	8	2
c. To identify areas where students need help	95	4	1
d. To determine whether students are promoted/ graduate	70	28	2
e. To rate/ rank schools	59	38	3
f. Used by employers when student graduates/applies for a job	39	58	3
g. To ensure students meet adequate national academic standards	87	11	2

30. Who do you think should be primarily responsible for developing these standardized tests?

	School district	State govt.	Fed. govt.	Private org.	Don’t know
Total	37	18	16	25	4
Parents	42	18	15	22	4
Non-parents	35	18	16	26	4

31. How confident are you that the test scores on standardized tests are an accurate indicator of a student's progress and abilities?

	Very confident	Somewhat confident	Not too confident	Not confident at all	Don’t know
Total	12	56	21	10	1
Parents	13	57	20	10	*
Non-parents	11	55	22	10	2

32. In general, do you think standardized tests are biased against minority students, or not?

	Yes	No	Don’t Know
Total	28	65	8
Parents	29	64	8
Non-parents	27	66	8

33A. (Asked of half sample) What effect do you think class size has on students’ achievement? For elementary school students, do you think small classes make a great deal of difference, little difference, or no difference at all?

	Great deal	Little difference	No difference	Don’t know
Total	73	21	5	1
Parents	79	18	3	*
Non-parents	70	23	6	1

33B. (Asked of half sample) What effect do you think class size has on students’ achievement? For high school students, do you think small classes make a great deal of difference, little difference, or no difference at all?

	Great deal	Little difference	No difference	Don’t know
Total	62	28	9	1
Parents	67	24	8	*
Non-parents	59	30	10	1

34A. (Asked of half sample) Do you favor or oppose the government offering parents money or "vouchers" to send their children to private or religious schools, or public schools outside their district?

	Favor	Oppose	Don’t Know
Total	42	54	4
Parents	46	51	3
Non-parents	39	56	5

34B. (Asked of half sample) Do you favor or oppose the government offering parents money or "vouchers" to send their children to private or religious schools, or public schools outside their district, or haven’t you heard enough about that to have an opinion?

	Favor	Oppose	Don’t Know
Total	31	36	33
Parents	36	29	35
Non-parents	28	39	32

35. (If favor vouchers) Would you still favor this if it meant there would be less money for public schools in your area?

	Yes, still favor	No, would oppose	Don’t Know
Total	52	44	5
Parents	51	46	3
Non-parents	52	42	6

34/35 Summary table: (Note: Lines 2 & 3 add up to Line 4)

	Total	Parents	Non-Parents
1. Initially favored and still favor, even if less money for public schools	19	21	18
2. Initially favored, but oppose if less money for public schools	16	19	14
3. Initially opposed (therefor not asked this follow-up question)	45	40	47
4. Total opposed after follow-up question	61	59	61
5. Don't Know	20	20	21

36. (If oppose vouchers) Would you still oppose this if it meant that children from less well-off families might not be able to attend better schools?

	Yes, still oppose	No, would favor	Don’t Know
Total	52	43	5
Parents	50	44	6
Non-parents	53	42	4