Having Their Say: The Views of Dayton-Area Parents on Education

Findings from this Fordham-sponsored survey--the fourth survey of Dayton, Ohio parent/community attitudes toward education since 1988--present a fascinating array of opinions about today's schools (and those who are responsible for them) and the changes that could be made tomorrow. Over 70 percent of Dayton-area parents support the idea of allowing students in failing schools to attend other schools of their choice; most urban parents favor education vouchers; and the number of parents who feel that Dayton schools are improving is going up (from 12 percent in the last survey to nearly a quarter this year). There is also strong support for charter schools in Dayton with a great many of them. For every person who would close them, four would keep or expand them. And, despite the ongoing complaint (from school-system defenders) that charters take money from traditional schools, almost two-thirds of parents say that "tax money is for a child's education, no matter what school he attends." Parents also support the use of standardized testing and think these tests should have consequences. In fact, more than three-quarters of the respondents agreed that getting promoted to the next grade or graduating from high school should depend at least in part on passing state tests. Included in the document are: (1) Foreword (Chester E. Finn, Jr.); (2) Highlights (Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Terry Ryan); and (3) Final Analysis--The Fordham Foundation 2003 Dayton Education Study (Kristen Van Wert). [This report presents findings of a survey by Paragon Alliance with with analysis by Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Terry Ryan.]