Reality Check 2006: The Insiders: How Principals and Superintendents See Public Education Today

Publication Date: September 2006

Publisher: Public Agenda Foundation

Author(s): Amber Ott; Ana Maria Arumi; Jean Johnson

Research Area: Education

Type: Report

Abstract:

The fourth in a series of Reality Check reports finds that most public school superintendents -- and principals to a lesser extent -- think local schools are already in pretty good shape. In fact, more than half of the nation's superintendents consider local schools to be "excellent." Most superintendents (77%) and principals (79%) say low academic standards are not a serious problem where they work. Superintendents are substantially less likely than classroom teachers to believe that too many students get passed through the system without learning. While 62 percent of teachers say this is a "very" or "somewhat serious" problem in local schools, just 27 percent of superintendents say the same.