10/2011 - Dropout Dilemma: Louisiana’s Education Crisis Survey

1. How important do you feel it is for students to graduate from high school?

How important do you feel it is for students to graduate from high school? Very Important

Important

Somewhat Important

Somewhat Unimportant

Unimportant

Very Unimportant

Don’t Know

2. How important to you is the issue of the high-school dropout rate?

How important to you is the issue of the high-school dropout rate? Very Important

Important

Somewhat Important

Somewhat Unimportant

Unimportant

Very Unimportant

Don’t Know

3. In your opinion, do high schools in the state of Louisiana do a good job of preparing children for the real world?

In your opinion, do high schools in the state of Louisiana do a good job of preparing children for the real world? Yes

Don’t Know

4. In your opinion, do high schools in the state of Louisiana do a good job encouraging students to graduate?

In your opinion, do high schools in the state of Louisiana do a good job encouraging students to graduate? Yes

Don’t Know

5. In your opinion, what is the main reason students drop out?
(Check all that apply)

In your opinion, what is the main reason students drop out? (Check all that apply) A Lack of Connection to the School Environment

A Perception That School Is Boring

Feeling Unmotivated

Academic Challenges

Crime

Pregnancy

Parental Apathy

Poor Teachers

Don’t Know

Other (please specify)

6. In your opinion, who is primarily responsible for DECREASING the high-school dropout rate?

In your opinion, who is primarily responsible for DECREASING the high-school dropout rate? Students

Parents

Teachers

Government

Don’t Know

Other (please specify)

7. In your opinion, what level of government should hold responsibility for getting students to graduate high school?

In your opinion, what level of government should hold responsibility for getting students to graduate high school? Federal government

State government

Local government

School district

Don’t Know

Other (please specify)

8. Based upon your opinion, rank the following options from least effective to most effective as tools for increasing high school graduation rates.

	Least Effective
Psych Counselors	*Based upon your opinion, rank the following options from least effective to most effective as tools for increasing high school graduation rates. Psych Counselors Least Effective	Psych Counselors	Psych Counselors	Psych Counselors	Psych Counselors	Psych Counselors	Psych Counselors
Involving the Parents	Involving the Parents Least Effective	Involving the Parents	Involving the Parents	Involving the Parents	Involving the Parents	Involving the Parents	Involving the Parents
Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines.	Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines. Least Effective	Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines.	Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines.	Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines.	Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines.	Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines.	Truancy Enforcement Through Officers and Fines.
Offering More Career Track Diplomas	Offering More Career Track Diplomas Least Effective	Offering More Career Track Diplomas	Offering More Career Track Diplomas	Offering More Career Track Diplomas	Offering More Career Track Diplomas	Offering More Career Track Diplomas	Offering More Career Track Diplomas
Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment	Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment Least Effective	Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment	Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment	Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment	Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment	Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment	Enhance the Connection Between School and Employment
Lowering Standards For Graduation	Lowering Standards For Graduation Least Effective	Lowering Standards For Graduation	Lowering Standards For Graduation	Lowering Standards For Graduation	Lowering Standards For Graduation	Lowering Standards For Graduation	Lowering Standards For Graduation
Early Childhood Education/Outreach	Early Childhood Education/Outreach Least Effective	Early Childhood Education/Outreach	Early Childhood Education/Outreach	Early Childhood Education/Outreach	Early Childhood Education/Outreach	Early Childhood Education/Outreach	Early Childhood Education/Outreach
Hiring Better Teachers	Hiring Better Teachers Least Effective	Hiring Better Teachers	Hiring Better Teachers	Hiring Better Teachers	Hiring Better Teachers	Hiring Better Teachers	Hiring Better Teachers
Eliminating Teacher Tenure	Eliminating Teacher Tenure Least Effective	Eliminating Teacher Tenure	Eliminating Teacher Tenure	Eliminating Teacher Tenure	Eliminating Teacher Tenure	Eliminating Teacher Tenure	Eliminating Teacher Tenure
Anti-pregnancy Campaigns	Anti-pregnancy Campaigns Least Effective	Anti-pregnancy Campaigns	Anti-pregnancy Campaigns	Anti-pregnancy Campaigns	Anti-pregnancy Campaigns	Anti-pregnancy Campaigns	Anti-pregnancy Campaigns

Other (please specify)

9. Would you be willing to fund programs to decrease dropout rates via an increase in your taxes?

Would you be willing to fund programs to decrease dropout rates via an increase in your taxes? Yes

Don’t Know

10. Based upon your opinion, rank the following actions by state government from least important to most important in decreasing Louisiana’s dropout rate.

	Least Important				Most Important
Invest in Prevention	*Based upon your opinion, rank the following actions by state government from least important to most important in decreasing Louisiana’s dropout rate. Invest in Prevention Least Important	Invest in Prevention	Invest in Prevention	Invest in Prevention	Invest in Prevention Most Important
Invest in Alternative Programs	Invest in Alternative Programs Least Important	Invest in Alternative Programs	Invest in Alternative Programs	Invest in Alternative Programs	Invest in Alternative Programs Most Important
Invest in Re-engaging Dropouts	Invest in Re-engaging Dropouts Least Important	Invest in Re-engaging Dropouts	Invest in Re-engaging Dropouts	Invest in Re-engaging Dropouts	Invest in Re-engaging Dropouts Most Important

Other (please specify)

11. In 2009, state policy-makers passed legislation to create an alternative Career Diploma pathway for students, with the goal of improving Louisiana’s graduation rate. The Career Diploma curriculum option carries less stringent graduation requirements.

Before taking this survey were you aware of this program?

In 2009, state policy-makers passed legislation to create an alternative Career Diploma pathway for students, with the goal of improving Louisiana’s graduation rate. The Career Diploma curriculum option carries less stringent graduation requirements. Before taking this survey were you aware of this program? Yes

Don’t Know

12. Do you feel this program could effectively curb the dropout rate in Louisiana?

Do you feel this program could effectively curb the dropout rate in Louisiana? Yes

Don’t Know

13. Do you feel this program will lower, raise, or have no effect on education standards in Louisiana?

Do you feel this program will lower, raise, or have no effect on education standards in Louisiana? Lower

Raise

Have No Effect

Don’t Know

14. In your opinion are high school drop-out rates higher in rural or urban areas?

In your opinion are high school drop-out rates higher in rural or urban areas? Urban

Rural

About the Same

Don’t Know

15. In your opinion what risk factors make a kid more likely to drop out?

In your opinion what risk factors make a kid more likely to drop out? Hanging out with the wrong crowd

Divorced parents

Lower economic strata

Parents in trouble with the law

Child is in trouble with the law

Involvement with Drugs

Don’t Know

16. Do you think identifying risk factors early-on in a child’s education and developing programs for those kids would help?

Do you think identifying risk factors early-on in a child’s education and developing programs for those kids would help? Yes

Don’t Know

17. In your opinion when should kids be targeted with anti-drop-out programs?

In your opinion when should kids be targeted with anti-drop-out programs? Elementary School

Middle School/Junior High

High School

Don’t Know

18. When teaching high school students, in your opinion what’s more important: well-rounded academic skills, or specific job training skills?

When teaching high school students, in your opinion what’s more important: well-rounded academic skills, or specific job training skills? Academic Skills

Job Skills

Both

Neither

Don’t Know

19. Are you aware of the TOPS program in Louisiana?

Are you aware of the TOPS program in Louisiana? Yes

Don’t Know

20. In your opinion is a person a high school dropout if they have their GED?

In your opinion is a person a high school dropout if they have their GED? Yes

Don’t Know