While nearly all respondents recognized the need for greater community involvement, many are not active in their local schools. The way we educate children today needs to change. This premise was supported by 78 percent of the respondents. Local businesses support schools. According to 63 percent of respondents, businesses in their area take an active role with local schools.
Education requires partnership between parents, community and business.
While 37 percent of the respondents said parents could have the greatest positive impact on the schools, only 5 percent each said community resources or the business community should fill this role. Non-white respondents reported higher levels of personal involvement than white respondents and comparable levels of financial involvement. Respondents whose children are grown were least supportive of increased investment in technology, special education and guidance. Respondents in the highest education and income categories were most likely to believe businesses provide financial support for local schools and least likely to credit business people with personal involvement in mentoring, lending expertise and similar activities. Respondents with a high school diploma or less were nearly five times more likely than those with post-graduate education to believe business plays an active role in improving accountability and assessment practices for teachers.