Studies Prepared for The California Higher Education Policy Center

Preserving the Higher Education Legacy: A Conversation with California Leaders. 1995. John Immerwahr. A follow-up to The Closing Gateway, this report is based on a series of in-depth interviews with distinguished California leaders. Citing problems such as rising costs and declining access to higher education, the leaders call for "a public forum or public process that would generate statewide discussion of the issue." Available from The California Higher Education Policy Center, 160 West Santa Clara Street, Suite #704, San Jose, CA 95113. Ask for Report #95-3.

The Closing Gateway: Californians Consider Their Higher Education System. 1993. John Immerwahr with Steve Farkas. Striking findings about Californians' and other Americans' views on the importance and accessibility of higher education. Based on a random sample survey of over 800 California residents and eight focus groups across the state, as well as a survey of over 500 Americans nationwide. Available from The California Higher Education Policy Center. Ask for Report #93-6.

 

National Education Studies from Public Agenda

*Getting By: What American Teenagers Really Think About Their Schools. 1997. Public high school students are the focus of the national telephone survey which examines how teens view their schools, teachers, and the learning process. Includes insights into what students say would motivate them to work harder in school and how they define "good" and "bad" teaching. Special sections on African-American and Hispanic students, private high school students, and students from Kentucky and the San Francisco Bay Area are included. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $10.00.

*Given the Circumstances: Teachers Talk About Public Education Today. 1996. Focuses on how public school teachers view the performance of the public schools; what children need to learn; and what schools need to be effective. A special focus on African-American and Hispanic teachers is included, along with a comparison of the views of teachers, the public, parents, and community leaders. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $10.00.

*Assignment Incomplete: The Unfinished Business of Education Reform. 1995. A follow-up study to First Things First (1994), this report examines why public support for public schools is in jeopardy; why Americans are so focused on the basics; whether people are really committed to higher standards; and whether they value education in and of itself. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $10.00.

*First Things First: What Americans Expect from the Public Schools. 1994. Looks at how the general public, including parents of children currently in public schools, views education reform efforts as well as values issues in the schools. Included are detailed analyses of the perspectives of white and African-American public school parents, as well as parents identified as traditional Christians. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $10.00.

 

Additional Education Publications From Public Agenda

*Americans' Views on Standards: An Assessment by Public Agenda. 1996. Prepared for the 1996 Education Summit, this assessment provides an in-depth review of Americans' attitudes toward higher standards in public schools. The report draws from Public Agenda's extensive archive of public opinion research on education--including surveys and focus group reports--and from studies by other prominent opinion analysts. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $7.50.

Committed to Change: Missouri Citizens and Public Education. 1996. Prepared by Public Agenda for The Missouri Partnership for Outstanding Schools, this report describes how Missouri citizens feel about public education. Gaps in perspectives among educators, community leaders, and the public, including a special focus on African-Americans, are outlined. Copies of the report are available from The Missouri Partnership for Outstanding Schools, 920A E. Broadway, Suite #203, Columbia, MO 65201-4858; (800) 659-4044.

*Attitudes Toward the St. Louis City Public Schools. 1996. Examines the views of St. Louis residents, including parents with children in the St. Louis public schools, teachers and principals. Issues including safety, order, the basics, and higher academic standards are addressed. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $7.50.

*The Broken Contract: Connecticut Citizens Look at Public Education. 1994. Prepared by Public Agenda for the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, this study describes how the citizens of Connecticut feel about public education and integration in their state and why they hold these attitudes. The gaps among educators, business leaders, and the public, including a special focus on African-Americans and Hispanics, are outlined. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $5.50.

*The Basics: Parents Talk About Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and the Schools. 1995. A focus group study that explores the general public's concern with the basics. Examines differences in attitude between college and non-college educated parents. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $7.50.

*Professional Development for Teachers: The Public's View. 1995. Examines the potential for both public support and disappointment with professional development for teachers. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $7.50.

*Accomplishing Reform with Public Engagement: A Map of the Process. 1995. Prepared by Public Agenda in collaboration with the Kettering Foundation, this map addresses citizens and community groups who want to undertake reform but believe the general public should or needs to be their partner for real change to occur. Roadblocks a community might encounter are flagged. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $7.50.

*Divided Within, Besieged Without: The Politics of Education in Four American School Districts. 1993. Prepared by Public Agenda for the Kettering Foundation, this study of educators, education administrators, parents and business executives looks at the substantial in-fighting and communication gaps among these groups of education stakeholders. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $10.00.

Effective Public Engagement. 1993. Prepared by Public Agenda for the New Standards Project. This focus group report explores the views of teachers, parents, high school students and members of the general public toward higher standards. Copies are available from The National Center on Education and the Economy, 700 11th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 783-3668. The report is $5.00 for New Standards Project partners, $25.00 for non-partners.

*Crosstalk: The Public, The Experts, and Competitiveness. 1991. A research report from Public Agenda and the Business-Higher Education Forum. The report describes a gap between the way leaders and the public view the issue of U.S. economic competitiveness and the associated crisis in education and work-force training. Copies are available from Public Agenda for $17.50.

Contested Values: Tug-of-War in the School Yard. 1995. Prepared by Public Agenda for the National Issues Forum, this citizen discussion guide focuses on pros and cons in the debate over which values American children should be taught in public schools. The guide can be ordered from McGraw-Hill, Inc., (800) 338-3987. ISBN 0-07-051825-4.

* Reports marked with an asterisk can be ordered by calling or writing Public Agenda at 6 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016. Tel: (212) 686-6610, Fax: (212) 889-3461. Shipping and handling costs will be applied.