California Public School Teachers and
Their Views on College and Career Readiness
A survey conducted April 2015
Survey Methodology
• Online survey conducted April 1 – 20, 2015
• 1,000 interviews among California teachers who are members
of the California Teacher Association
– Margin of error +/- 3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence level
– The sample was pulled randomly from a statewide list of California
Teachers Association (CTA) members who are teachers
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Figure 1
Very Strong Support for College and Career Readiness
The principal goal of recent education reforms, including the California Common Core State
Standards, is to ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared for college and
careers. This means that students should be prepared both to succeed in college, or in other
career options such as apprenticeships, vocational or technical training programs, enlisting in
the military, or entering the job market, without taking remedial or developmental courses.
Do you support setting a goal of college and career readiness for California's public school
students?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
95 Total Support
23
72
4
Support
Strongly Support
Do Not Support
Somewhat Support
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Total Not Support
Figure 2
Nearly All High School Teachers Consider Themselves
Knowledgeable of How to Prepare Students for College/Careers
(IF HIGH SCHOOL) How knowledgeable do you consider yourself about what should be done to prepare
students for college and careers?
100
90
98 Total Knowledgeable
44
80
70
60
50
55
40
30
20
10
2
0
Knowledgeable
Very Knowledgeable
Somewhat Knowledgeable
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Not Knowledgeable
Not Knowledgeable
Figure 3
Graduating with Critical Thinking Skills is the Most
Important Way to Assess Students are Prepared for College
In defining college and career readiness, how do you think we should assess whether a student is
adequately prepared for college and other postsecondary training? Please choose three items
from the list below that you think are the most important.
Student graduates with critical thinking skills
necessary to succeed in post-secondary options
49
Ability to complete college, vocational or
certificate courses without first taking remedial/
developmental courses
Student has participated in a career-oriented
program that offers work experience, e.g. linked
learning programs, internships.
15
21
14
22
10
26
24
24
17
Student graduates with independent study skills
Pass the A-G courses required to enter the
University of California or California State
University
11
Score at a proficient level on the new Smarter
Balanced assessments.
Most Important
2nd Most Important
1 5
0
13
18
17
78% Top 3
11 Most Important
62% Top 3
Most Important
59% Top 3
Most Important
50% Top 3
Most Important
41% Top 3
Most Important
8% Top 3
Most Important
20
40
60
80
100
3rd Most Important
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Figure 4
Teachers Say Graduating from High School Prepared For College
and Careers is a Somewhat Realistic Goal for their Students
In your opinion, how realistic is the goal of ensuring that students in your school graduate
from high school prepared for college and careers?
100
90
80
70
76 Total Realistic
46
60
50
40
30
20
30
23
10
0
Realistic
Very Realistic
Somewhat Realistic
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Not Realistic
Not Very Realistic + Not Realistic At All
Figure 5
Goal is Less Realistic as they Get Closer to Graduation…
In your opinion, how realistic is the goal of ensuring that students in your school graduate from high
school prepared for college and careers?
Realistic Goal by Grade Level
100
90
80
87 Total Realistic
78 Total Realistic
45
76 Total Realistic
45
70
49
74 Total Realistic
48
60
50
40
30
42
33
20
21
10
27
24
25
26
10
0
Pre-K through
Kindergarten
Very Realistic
Elementary
Somewhat Realistic
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Jr. High / Middle
School
High School
Not Very Realistic + Not Realistic At All
Figure 6
Anticipation for College and Career Readiness is Less
Realistic in Higher Poverty Schools
100
90
80
College/Career Readiness a Realistic Goal by
Free And Reduced Meal Percentage
87 Total Realistic
29
83 Total Realistic
77 Total Realistic
45
70 Total Realistic
48
70
50
60
50
58
40
38
30
10
30
29
20
13
17
22
20
0
Under 25% Free and
Reduced Meals
Very Realistic
25 to 50% Free and
Reduced Meals
Somewhat Realistic
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
50 to 75% Free and
Reduced Meals
Over 75% Free and
Reduced Meals
Not Very Realistic + Not Realistic At All
Figure 7
Majority Have Standards for College and Career
Readiness, but they are not Always Defined
Does your school district have clearly defined standards for what constitutes college and
career readiness for students?
60
50
40
30
35
30
20
16
10
8
11
0
Yes, has clearly
Yes, has
defined
standards, but not
standards
clearly defined
Standards are
under
development
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
No standards
Don't know
Figure 8
Teachers Feel they Have Had Limited Amount of Training
on College Readiness and Less on Career Readiness
Over the past two years or so, have you
received any training or professional
development on strategies for preparing
students for college?
Over the past two years or so, have you received
any training or professional development on
strategies for preparing students for other career
options such as job training programs, military,
internships, or employment directly in the
workforce?
100
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
60
53
40
30
43
36
50
40
30
20
20
10
10
0
0
Total
Yes
84
60
62
50
89
No
High School
Teachers
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
14
8
Total
Yes
No
High School
Teachers
Figure 9
Career-Linked Programs and Career-Technical Courses are the Top
Needed Resources to Ensure Preparation for Colleges/Careers
Which 3 of the following resources does your school or school district most need to ensure students are better prepared for college
and careers? Of the 3 following resources you stated your school or school district most needs to ensure students are better prepared
for college and careers
Career academies, linked learning programs or other programs
that link the high school curriculum with a specific career
pathway
18
20
More high school career-technical courses
More school counselors focusing on helping students make
choices about colleges, or alternatives to college
14
15
12
17 5
More resources in the classroom.
More access to classes that students need in order to get into
college, including A-G classes
6 8
More information to offer students about their financial aid
options for postsecondary education and/or training
37
More written or online materials to help students learn about
and select colleges and/or other programs that can prepare
them for careers
More availability of Advanced Placement (AP) courses
Other
6
34
18 57% Top 3 Most Needed
22
17
More professional development for school employees on what
college and career readiness means and how to achieve it
Most Needed
21
9
13
16
55% Top 3 Most Needed
47% Top 3 Most Needed
15 40% Top 3 Most Needed
26% Top 3 Most Needed
22% Top 3 Most Needed
12 22% Top 3 Most Needed
9 16% Top 3 Most Needed
7% Top 3 Most Needed
11 4% Top 3 Most Needed
2nd Most Needed
3rd Most Needed
0
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
20
40
60
80
100
Figure 10
Teachers Who Work in High Schools Emphasize the Need
for Career Technical Programs
Top Resources Needed by Grade Level
80
70
75
60
50
61
57
56
51
40
30
55
37
41
43
54
49
47
42
46
40
35
20
10
0
Pre-K to Kindergarten
Elementary
Linked Learning Programs
More School Counselors
Middle School/Junior
High
High School
Career Technical Programs
More Professional Development
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Figure 11
Most Teachers Support Common Core,
but with Reservations
Thinking about Common Core State Standards, on balance, would you say you...
80
70
60
58
50
48
40
30
43
31
20
12
0
Overall
8
33
16
11 10
9 7
Pre-K to
Kindergarten
Elementary
Support Common Core
Do Not Support Common Core
43
35
30
20
10
53
14
7
Middle
School/Junior
High
10
High School
Support Common Core with Reservations
Unsure
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Figure 12
Members Express High Satisfaction with Jobs;
Non-Classroom Members Very Satisfied
Generally speaking, how satisfied are you overall with your job?
100
90
80 Total
80
73 Total
72 Total
70
43
45
60
35
50
40
30
20
45
27 Total
30
28 Total
18
27
20 Total
19
12
10
9
0
Overall
Very Satisfied
9
Classroom Teachers
Fairly Satisfied
8
Non-Classroom teachers
Just Somewhat Satisfied
Not that Satisfied
*Note: In our experience with previous research, this means they like teaching –
not that they feel good about their working conditions
GBA Strategies – College and Career Readiness Survey Findings
Figure 13
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