“CITIZENS’ OPINIONS” Alabama career and technical education

1. “CITIZENS’ OPINIONS”Alabama career and technical education A Survey Project Conducted for the Alabama Department of Education 2003-2014

3. Project FACTS and PURPOSE • Purpose – Explore opinions and perceptions of Career and Technical Education in Alabama • Current survey is being conducted through our great partnership with CTECS • This is an online survey to measure Alabamian’s opinions about CTE

4. Survey FACTS and PURPOSE • This survey is open for responses until February 28, 2014 • Links to the survey • All State Residents – General • https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HFPYY27 • Student, Parents, and Educators • https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HMPPNVL • To have success with this type of project you must rely on partnerships – “No Silos Allowed”

5. Our Partners • The State Republican Party • The State Democratic Party • State PTA/PTO • State Chamber Association • State Retailers’ Association • Emails to all Alabama Teachers, Superintendents, and School Principals • Statewide Media (print, television, and radio) • Alabama Postsecondary Education • Statewide Business and Industry Councils • CTECS

6. The Original Surveys: 2003, 2005, 2008

7. “A random sample of 500 registered Alabama voters” Who Participated in the Original Surveys? *Administered using traditional telephone-based surveys

8. Measured DEMOGRAPHICS • Gender • Age • Residence • Education • Income • Race • Child/Grandchild in Public School

9. Comparing Data: 2003, 2005 & 2008 • Equivalent “Citizen’s Opinions” survey were conducted for the ALSDE in 2003 and 2005 • The 2003 and 2005 surveys used exactly the same questionnaires • For comparison purposes, 2003 and 2005 survey results were also reported in the 2008 survey.

10. What was EXAMINED? • Opinions of Public Education • Beliefs about College • Knowledge of Career Tech programs • Opinions of CTE • Awareness of 21st Century Learning

11. Survey FINDINGS “About 1-in-3 rated the quality of public education in Alabama as excellent.” “Overall, Alabamians’ opinions about the quality of public education was slightly more positive in 2008 than in 2005.”

12. 57% Survey FINDINGS Respondents that said a “traditional four-year college degree” is necessary for a successful career. 2008 60% 2005 2003 60%

13. 71% Survey FINDINGS Respondents that said it is “very important” for their children to attend college. 2008 75% 2005 2003 70%

14. Survey FINDINGS Respondents that said it was “very important” for Alabama’s public schools to offer Career and Technical Education programs.

15. Survey FINDINGS Relationship with Local Businesses How“very important” is it for CTE educators to work with local businesses?

16. Survey FINDINGS Respondent Opinions How important is it for the public schools to offer CTE?

17. Survey FINDINGS Incorporating 21st Century Skills into the curriculum is something that voters believed schools can and should do.

18. “Times have changed since 2008” - And so have surveying methods too - • The average person spent approximately 423 minutes on Facebook in 2011 (Olmstead, The State of the News Media 2012 – An Annual Report on American Journalism) • According to a 2008 survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the share of adult Internet users who have a profile on social networks quadrupled from 8 percent in 2005 to 35 percent in 2008

19. According to “Diffusion of Technology: Frequency of use for Younger and Older Adults,” an article written by Katherine Olson, Marita O’Brien, Wendy Rogers, and Neil Charness more than 40 percent of younger adults reported using the Internet more than 15 hours per week.

20. Alabama Technology Statistics • AL - 4,822,023 population (2012 Est.) - Size Area: 52,423 square miles • State Capital City: Montgomery - population 205,293 (2012) • 3,092,273 internet users as of June 2010, 65.0% of the population • 1,599,260 Facebook users on August 2010 • 2,164,740 Facebook users on March 2011 Source: http://www.internetworldstats.com/unitedstates.htm

21. Citizens’ Opinions of CTE in Alabama 2014 Preliminary Results from an Online Survey

22. Why the survey was conducted • Follow-up to 2008 telephone survey • Designed and developed by CTECS • Survey closes February 28, 2014; current results are unofficial and preliminary • Intended to measure opinions of CTE from perspective of parents, students, teachers, and residents • Intended to provide better service to students, parents, and local communities statewide • How is CTE perceived in Alabama?

23. How the survey was set up • Sample group • Based on previous survey using registered Republicans and Democrats in Alabama • Minimum response rate of 500 (so far, 686 responses) • Survey groups • Students • Teachers/administrators • Parents • Industry/advisory groups • So far, 587 responses

24. Media Coverage – Evening News

25. Media Coverage – News Websites

26. QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION! BRAINSTORMING!