Schools Matter blogger Jim Horn just offered $100
to the first 10 candidates for US Senate or House who agree to support
the public education priorities favored by the American people,
according to a new Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa poll.

Here’s a summary I put together from Horn’s challenge list:

    Americans think NCLB has hurt schools (73%), not helped them (22%).

    Americans oppose school turnarounds – 58% support helping existing local school and school staff; only 13% want to close schools down or reopen them as charters.

    Americans oppose national curriculum and standards – 69/80% want these decided at the local and state level; only 28/19% want them set at the federal level.

    Americans oppose tying teacher salaries to “results”
– 60% agree that the primary purpose of teacher evaluation is “helping
them improve their ability to teach”; only 13% like “establishing their
salaries based upon their skills.”

    Despite the recent relentless attack on teachers and schools by corporate and political leaders, Americans have “trust and confidence” in public school teachers (71%) and still give their local schools high marks (77% give an A or a B; 23% give a C, D, or F – only 1% F).

    Americans think schools could earn an “A” by improved teaching (34%), not more testing (6%) or alternative certification (71% opposed in 2009).

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Read Horn’s post for his full list and the Gallup/PDK poll for full details.