METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLING CHARACTERISTICS

The Texas Education Survey was conducted for the Friends of Texas Public Schools, Cambridge Strategic Services, the International Society of Community Engagement Professionals, and Community IMS. The automated telephone survey was conducted March 26 thru March 28, 2009 by The Reuel Group, Inc.
There were 933 completed questionnaires obtained from a sampling of likely voters. The sampling design employed a random selection by geographic area and accurately reflects citizen opinion and demographic characteristics of likely voters in Texas.

Sampling Framing and Design

The sample group was a stratified sample randomly selected from likely voters in Texas. “Likely” voters were defined as individuals who voted sixty-six percent (66 %) of the time or better, when eligible, in municipal elections and general elections from 2004 to present. Efforts were made to ensure a proportional geographic selection from within the state. These methods correspond with common statistical practice and scientific survey procedures.

Questionnaire Design

In consultation with representatives of the sponsoring organizations, The Reuel Group, Inc. developed the survey instrument.

Interviews

Telephone interviews were automated. The interviews were conducted during the day and evenings beginning on Thursday, March 26, 2009 and ending on Saturday, March 28, 2009. Interviews were approximately three minutes in length.

Response Tabulation

After completion of interviewing, the computer data file was analyzed by The Reuel Group, Inc. All response cross–tabulations and statistical interpretations were performed by Russell Autry, Bill Barnhouse and Julie Ahonen.

Margin of Error/Confidence Rating

The margin of error based upon the sample size of 933 is +/- 3.3% with a confidence rating of 95 %.

The Reuel Group, Inc. is a member of The American Association for Public Opinion Research and subscribes to its Code of Professional Ethics and Practices.

SURVEY RESULTS

Texans overwhelmingly give their local school districts and Texas public school teachers a passing grade.

Highlights:

89.8% of respondents to the March 2009 edition of the Texas Education survey give Texas public school Teachers a passing grade while 61.6% give A’s and B’s to their work with Texas Students.

Similarly high marks are given to local public school district performance with local districts receiving a passing grade by 80.2% and 50.5% awarding A’s and B’s.

Though confidence is high for respondent’s own districts, the overall performance of the state in preparing students for college/workforce is lower with 38.2% giving grades of A/B. A comparable 39.5% give above average grades to districts in managing tax dollars.

? 1:
How would you grade Texas’ public schools performance in preparing students for college or the workforce? A, B, C, D, F?
            A         101      10.8%
            B         256      27.4%
            C         354      37.9%
            D         171      18.3%
            F          51      5.5%
            Total    933    100.0%

? 2:
How would you grade the performance of your local public school district in preparing students for college or the workforce? A, B, C, D, F?
            A         196      21.0%
            B         275      29.5%
            C         277      29.7%
            D         133      14.3%
            F          52      5.6%
            Total    933    100.0%

? 3:
How would you grade the overall performance of the teachers in local public schools? A, B, C, D, F?
            A         185      19.8%
            B         390      41.8%
            C         263      28.2%
            D         63      6.8%
            F          32      3.4%
            Total    933    100.0%

? 4:
How would you grade your local public school district’s overall performance in the use of your tax dollars? A, B, C, D, F?
            A         113      12.1%
            B         256      27.4%
            C         279      29.9%
            D         163      17.5%
            F          122      13.1%
            Total    933    100.0%