There are basically two national yearly polls on how the public feels towards education: Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa & Education Next. Both polls have asked questions regarding Common Core since 2010.
This week, Rick Hess, from American Enterprise Institute, summarizes what these two polls tell us regarding the public’s attitude on Common Core Standards over the years. His conclusion lists three aspects:
First, views on the Common Core are highly sensitive to how questions are asked. Depending on which of the above questions one focuses on, it’s possible to argue that the public overwhelmingly supports the Common Core 58-24 . . . or opposes it by that exact same margin! This should encourage us to take any particular set of poll results with more than a few grains of salt.
Second, sentiment remains more positive than negative on the Common Core but exhibits a clear downward trend. Different questions suggest that the margin of pro-Common Core sentiment fell by 26 points between 2012 and 2013; three points during 2014-15; 42 points during 2012-15; and 32 points during 2012-15. Whatever the particulars, the results suggest a dramatic erosion of support.
Third, support on the right melted away between 2012 and 2015, but Democratic support has also steadily softened over time. From 2012 to 2015, Democratic support seems to have declined about eight to 10 points. More significantly, the share of Democrats opposed to the Common Core (or to unnamed common standards) has increased about fivefold— from 5 percent to 25 percent.
Bottom line, support for the Common Core Standards declines the more adults know and experience these standards with their children. It will be interesting to see what recommendations come from the NC Academic Standards Review Commission’s report later this year, and how the NC State Board of Education responds to those recommendations. Meanwhile, North Carolina students begin their fourth year of being taught Common Core Standards.
