Teacher strikes poll: most Republicans and Democrats agree that American teachers need a raise - Vox

Teacher strikes poll: most Republicans and Democrats agree that American teachers need a raise - Vox:

Most Republicans and Democrats agree that American teachers need a raise

And a majority of Americans are even willing to pay more taxes for it.

Teachers across the United States who are protesting years of school funding cuts have the American public on their side.

Most Americans agree that teachers are underpaid, and slightly more than half of adults support striking as a strategy to change that, according to a new AP-NORC poll. Half of Americans also said they are willing to pay more taxes to fund schools and pay teachers more.

Support for raising teachers’ salaries cuts across party lines. Nearly 90 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of independents, and 66 percent of Republicans think teachers don’t get paid enough.

The survey of 1,140 adults, conducted April 11 through 16, gauged public opinion on the wave of teachers strikes sweeping through the nation. Teachers in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Kentucky all walked out of class in recent months to pressure state lawmakers to spend more money on schools or teachers (or both). Their success has inspired teachers in Arizona and Colorado to prepare their own work stoppage.

The AP-NORC poll shows that these teachers have a lot of support, though not everyone agrees with their strategy. About 78 percent of adults surveyed said schools don’t pay teachers enough, and 52 percent said they support educators who are going on strike to demand higher salaries. (25 percent disapprove of strikes.) Adults who knew about the recent teacher walkouts were more likely to support the idea of teachers striking — 80 percent of them did.

On Thursday, a majority of teachers Arizona plan to go on strike, despite Gov. Doug Ducey’s promise to give them a 20 percent pay raise to avert a shutdown. The teachers group, Arizona Educators United, said they want to see a bill passed, and that it should include more school funding and raises for all school staff.

Teachers in Arizona are among the lowest-paid in the country, and lawmakers have cut education spending per student more than any other state since 2008 — by 36.5 percent. Meanwhile, state lawmakers have been on a tax-cutting spree, slashing taxes on a host of businesses in 2016, from insurance companies to charter plane operators. Last year, Ducey signed a bill with more tax breaks for businesses as well as a 1 percent raise for teachers.

In the AP-NORC poll, half of respondents said they would be willing to pay higher taxes to improve education funding. The view was equally shared by parents and adults without Teacher strikes poll: most Republicans and Democrats agree that American teachers need a raise - Vox:

 

Charter schools boom in California. Here's where they grew | The Sacramento Bee

Charter schools boom in California. Here's where they grew | The Sacramento Bee:

Charter schools are booming in California. Here’s where they are growing fastest

California’s charter school enrollment continues to skyrocket, growing by more than 25,000 students during each of the past 10 years.

Almost 630,000 students attended California public charter schools at the start of this school year — about one in every 10 students, according to new data from the California Department of Education. California charter school enrollment has increased 150 percent in the last 10 years.

Charter schools operate independently from public school districts. Proponents of charter schools say this freedom benefits teachers and students by encouraging innovation. Opponents say they take away funds from traditional public schools, increasing educational disparities.

The fight between charter schools and traditional schools is a major issue in California politics. Charter school proponents, for instance, are pouring millions into the gubernatorial campaign of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

During the past five years, charter school enrollment grew by at least 30 percent in 26 California counties. Among urban counties, growth was fastest in Contra Costa, San Francisco and Los Angeles counties.

Charter school enrollment grew by 34 percent in Sacramento County. Enrollment in Placer and Yolo counties grew by about 27 percent. El Dorado County’s charter school enrollment declined because a statewide charter, Aspire, moved the charter for six schools from there to other counties.

Charter schools boom in California. Here's where they grew | The Sacramento Bee:

More than one in 10 public school students attends a charter school in 24 California counties. Sonoma, San Diego and Los Angeles have the greatest proportion of charter school students among urban counties.

About 13 percent of public school students in Sacramento County attend charter schools. In neighboring Placer County, that number is 14 percent.

Charter schools boom in California. Here's where they grew | The Sacramento Bee:

Phillip Reese is The Bee’s data specialist and teaches at Sacramento State: 916-321-1137.

Charter schools boom in California. Here's where they grew | The Sacramento Bee: