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PREFACE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
INTRODUCTION
Survey Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
A Note on Reading the Exhibits and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Project Responsibility and Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Public Release of Survey Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Challenges for Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
MAJOR FINDINGS
I. Quality of Life Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
II. Preparedness Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
III. Responsibility Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
IV. Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
V. Future Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
VI. Sources of Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
VII. Community Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
VIII. Teacher Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
IX. Warning Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
CHAPTER 1: SCHOOL REPORT CARDS -- ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
The Most Important Issue Facing America -- Education and School Safety . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Are Teachers Doing Everything They Can? That Depends on Whom You Ask . . . . . . . . .15
Teachers Are Better at Teaching Some Subjects Than Other Subjects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Some Parents Are More Critical of the Schools Than Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Some Students Are Also More Critical Than Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Learning About Different Jobs and Careers -- Whose Job Is It and How Well
Are They Doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
CHAPTER 2: DIVERGENT VIEWS ON PARENT AND TEACHER INVOLVEMENT
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Who Says Parents Aren't Spending Enough Time with Their Children? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
So, What Are Parents and Children Doing Together? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Are Parents Alienated or Just Too Busy to Be Involved with the Schools? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Where Are Teens Going for Advice -- Home vs. School? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Getting a Good Education -- Whose Responsibility Is It Anyway? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
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