Emerging Public Expectations

I have been doing public opinion research on education issues for more than 15 years.  I have observed amazing shifts in people’s expectations for schools and education – especially over the past four to five years; especially among younger parents (those younger than baby boomers).Families don’t want the schools and classrooms of the previous century, which is largely what we still have.

Public educators must account for families’ shifting expectations or public schools risk losing their franchise.  Here is a chart I used in a recent presentation that summarize the emerging public expecations for education that I’ve observed in my work.

Emerging Expectations for Education

	Fading Expectations	Emerging Expectations
Purpose	Teach the Basics	Cultivate Love of Learning
Students	Do Your Assignment	Engage Their Passions
Instruction	Common Curriculum	Deep Personalization
Teachers	Instructors	Mentors/Facilitators
*Classrooms	Small Numbers/Closed	High Touch/Connected
Decisions	District Centric	School & Family Centric
Accountability	Narrow School Progress	Broad Student Progress

* the most nascent attitude

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