Fast Facts

Interesting facts and quotes about Association membership and public education in Maine and beyond. Have an idea or stat you want shared? Send it along with your name and local to gbechard@maineea.org

A Gallup Poll conducted in May surveyed 1,000 American adults via telephone and another 3,500 online. The poll revealed specifi c information regarding standardized testing, Common Core and teacher evaluation. Below are some of the results and comments about the poll. The margin of sampling error in the telephone poll is plus or minus 4.7 percentage points, and plus or minus 3 percentage points for the online poll. "Parents see the work their kids bring home every night. Th ey go to teacher conferences, and they're more likely to judge the school and the quality of the teacher based on that, than solely using test scores." — Joshua Starr, CEO of Phi Delta Kappa International, an association for educators, and a former school superintendent. 63% Percentage of Americans with children in public schools who oppose linking teacher evaluations to their students' test scores, according to a recent Gallup Poll. 54% Percentage of parents who oppose teachers in their communities using the Common Core standards to guide what they teach, according to the Gallup Poll. 47% Percentage of parents who said they should be allowed to excuse their children from taking one or more standardized tests, according to the Gallup Poll. Nearly two-thirds Amount of those who participated in the online survey { who say too much emphasis is placed on standardized $ 780.9 testing in public schools. Nineteen percent said they were comfortable with the tests, 7 percent said there was too little emphasis and 10 percent didn't know. Million Amount the day-to-day operations and student and “Teachers are often the fi rst to come to mind when thinking of the people who play a part in a child’s education. But even the greatest teachers catch a pass from staff who, among many things, transport students to school, maintain the building, prepare meals, communicate with the community, offer support in the classroom, and direct the library and front offi ce. visitor spending in total contribute to the Maine Like a sports team, an educational economy each year, according to the University of Maine System. Also from the UMaine System: More teachers and school administrators in Maine have their undergraduate and graduate degrees team comprises many different people who contribute to the school community’s success. Helping from the University of Maine than any other college students achieve their potential or university. requires every available resource.” — NEA President Lily Eskelsen García