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Teachers Aren’t Alone in Prioritizing Education in the 2016 Elections
posted by: Alana | November 18, 2015, 04:13 PM   

 

We’re still a year out from the election and the 2016 battle for the White House is already in full swing. Despite the daily headlines, one issue isn’t getting much attention from the current slate of candidates on either side of the aisle– K12 education.

 

Though the jury is still out on where many of the candidates stand on the issue, a new poll by the Communities in Schools (CIS), a dropout prevention nonprofit, revealed that education is a top priority for swing state voters – including those in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

 

The CIS poll is the first of its kind to investigate education in relation to the 2016 election cycle, and the key findings are as follows:

  • 68% say improving K-12 public education should be a top priority for the next President;
  • 76% believe it should be a top priority for all children to get a good education, no matter their economic circumstances;
  • 63% believe that student poverty is a barrier to achieving that goal;
  • 36% say they’ve heard the major candidates talk about these important issues.

 

According to the CIS poll, swing state voters even place more importance on education than they do on hot button issues like Obamacare and immigration! While the poll indicated that voters are split on which party is better equipped to improve education, teachers and swing state voters alike are hoping that the issue of education gains traction in the comings weeks.

 

Though the jury is still out on where many of the candidates stand on the issue, AAE members have been vocal when it comes to education reform issues. According to AAE’s 2015 member survey:

  • 85% believed that state and local governments should have the greatest influence on education;
  • 64% indicated that they’d prefer to negotiate their own salaries;
  • 76% agree that the bottom third of high school graduates entering schools of education is hurting the perception of teaching; and
  • 94% support course choice for students.

 

The 2016 AAE national teacher survey will be released this month in an effort to give teachers a voice on the national stage. As mounting calls for reform from both sides of the isle take shape, voters are right to question policies that will have lasting effects on their students; and AAE is eager to shine a spotlight on teacher opinions during this critical time.


Which candidate are you most eager to hear from?
Tell us in the comments below!

 

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