However, southern Michigan residents give among the highest marks of any region to the positive effects of the passage of 1994's Proposal A, which shifted the basis of the school finance system from local property taxes to the state sales tax. They also give high marks to the technology skills of their local public school's graduating seniors. In addition, more southern Michigan residents report themselves to be knowledgeable about the schools than do residents of nearly every other region. A majority of respondents believe that students from their local schools are either very or somewhat prepared to both compete for jobs in a world economy and enter college ready to learn. In nearly all subgroups a majority of respondents believe that students are very prepared or somewhat prepared for the world beyond high school.
Respondents feel very good about the level of technology in public school classrooms.
A majority of nearly every demographic subgroup believes that computers improve education and that it is important for every student to have access to a computer at school. A majority of respondents hold the position that schools should teach values and help students to develop good character traits. However, schools have more work to do to make members of the public feel as if they are school customers. This survey finds no difference of opinion on the customer aspect among parents and nonparents of school-age children. However, feelings of customer satisfaction and ownership are very good predictors of responses to other questions.