Category: Our Work

In February, we took a look at the belief statement Grades are the best indicator of a student’s knowledge and skill level. Overall, voters did not believe it (36-55) and neither did parents (36-57). This week, we look at data from the most recent survey for Winning the Issues (April 27-29) that asked voters to choose whether classroom grades or standardized test scores were the best indicator of a high school student’s knowledge and skill. 

While neither option had a majority, voters overall said classroom grades by a margin of +11 (48-37). Parents were among the groups most likely to say classroom grades were the best indicator (56-35, +21). While non-parents also tended to say that grades were better than test scores, it was only by a margin of 8 (45-37). 

Of note, while both African American and Hispanic voters each had nearly one in two prefer classroom grades to test scores, the margins among these groups were smaller compared to voters overall and parents (+6 grades among African Americans; +5 among Hispanics).

Also of note, those who thought a 70% in Algebra 1 indicated readiness for Algebra 2 (42% of the electorate) preferred classroom grades by a margin of 17 (54-37). On the other hand, among the 43% who said a 70% did not indicate readiness, the margin between grades and test scores was only 6 (46-40).

This research joins a larger body of research showing parents rely more on classroom grades than test scores, most notably that of Learning Heroes released at the end of last year. However, it also shows that voters overall — including non-parents — agree that grades are better than test scores. Voters may not believe that grades are the best indicator of student knowledge absolutely, but when the alternative is test scores as currently defined, they tend to prefer the grades.

A couple of weeks ago, we looked at whether parents and voters thought that a 70% in Algebra 1 indicated readiness for Algebra 2. On an earlier survey for Winning the Issues, voters had previously said a 70% in Algebra 1 did not indicate readiness for Algebra 2, but by a narrow margin (41-45 ready-not ready). This week, we look again at the topic, and also an additional potential threshold for academic readiness.

On the April survey for Winning the Issues (April 27-29), we again asked voters whether a hypothetical student who received a 70% in Algebra 1 would be ready for Algebra 2. This time, virtually the same share of voters said students would be ready (42-43 ready-not ready). Parents narrowly said that student was ready (48-45). Non-parents resembled the overall electorate. 

As we observed in the last survey, it is notable that many voters do not think a 70% indicates readiness for the next academic level, even if it is typically considered passing. For this survey, we included another question: was a student earning an 80% ready for Algebra 2?

The share saying that a student with an 80% would be ready for Algebra 2 shot up by 41 points (83-10 ready-not ready). Among non-parents, it also increased by 41 points (81-10). Among parents, it increased by 39 points (87-9).

Overall, 80% was clearly a more acceptable threshold and indicator of readiness for the next subject level. Simply getting a passing grade was not seen as enough. The electorate seems to expect some level of mastery beyond the binary pass/fail. Agreement that a student with an 80% was ready for Algebra 2 held across other groups, including age and partisan groups. There are two questions that remain. First, why is a 70% a more acceptable threshold for some than it is for others? And second, what knowledge does a student with an 80% in Algebra 1 have that a student with a 70% does not?

Over six months after the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, tensions on college campuses have flared again. The latest round followed the testimony of Columbia President Nemat Minouche Shafik in front of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce April 17. Protesters have staged sit-ins and other disruptive activity at colleges across the country, including Columbia.  Columbia ultimately canceled its in-person classes for the rest of the semester, and has canceled their graduation ceremonies.

Data from the latest survey for Winning the Issues (April 27-29) shed some light on how voters are thinking about and responding to the latest wave of protests. The brand image of colleges and universities has become more negative (53-34 favorable-unfavorable) compared to where it was in December (57-30) after the first Ed and Workforce hearing led to the resignation of two of the three university presidents called to testify. Among independents, less than a majority have a favorable view (46-39).

Ivy League universities (38-41) remain slightly negative (39-40 in December), with independents being more negative (32-45).

Among voters overall, only 19% say they approve of how colleges and universities have handled the demonstrations on campus (19-53 approve-disapprove). Among independents, that share shrinks to 12% (12-57).

Similarly, only 23% say they agree with the pro-Palestinian protests happening on college campuses (23-53 agree-disagree). Majorities of Republicans (10-69) and independents (19-54) say they disagree, while Democrats are split (38-36, 26% don’t know). Within the Democratic party, there are distinctions by age. Half of Democrats under 44 say they agree (50-29). But among Democrats 45 and older, only 29% say they agree, with 42% disagreeing and 30% saying they don’t know. 

Voters are clearly dissatisfied with what they have seen happening on campuses in the last few weeks, a continuation of what they would have observed last fall. What’s more, the dissatisfaction is not limited to Republicans. Independents are dissatisfied, too. 

Grade inflation has been a frequent topic we have explored at length. Related to the topic of grade inflation is the concept of mastery. At what level of achievement is a student sufficiently ready to graduate to the next level of subject matter? And how does this level translate to numeric grades? 

On the February survey for Winning the Issues (February 24-25) we asked voters about a hypothetical student who received a 70% in Algebra 1. Was that student ready or not ready for Algebra 2? 

By a narrow margin, voters said that student was not ready, but this was not a majority view (41-45 ready-not ready). Both Republicans (43-43) and Democrats (43-44) are split in their views, while independents had a near majority say that student was not ready (36-48).

Younger voters (ages 18-34) had a majority say the student was ready (56-31 ready-not ready), while older voters (65+) had a majority say that student was not ready (33-54). Parents narrowly said the student was ready, but this was not a majority view (46-40).

There are differences on this question based on the level of concern about learning loss. Those who think students are significantly behind (27% of the electorate) say this student is not ready by a 19-point margin (34-53), while those who think students are about where they normally would have been absent the disruption of the pandemic hold the opposite view (52-32).

A grade of 70%, around a C, is typically considered a passing grade. Yet it is noteworthy that many voters did not think it indicated readiness for the next level of academic content. The question as to what does indicate readiness remains to be addressed.