Poll finds education as top priority among Nashville area voters

Despite recent developments surrounding the state's new TNReady standardized test, registered voters in two area legislative districts see education as a top priority.

Nearly one-quarter of respondents in both Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, and House Speaker Beth Harwell's legislative districts said "improving the quality of public education" was a higher priority than making health care more affordable and accessible, investing in infrastructure and improving the economy, according to a newly released poll from Public Opinion Strategies, which surveyed 300 registered voters in each district.

Among the other key findings in the poll is that more than 70 percent of voters in each district say academic requirements for public school students should be raised, while about 83 percent believe testing is important to ensure students are meeting academic standards.

Further, the survey indicates 89 percent of voters support holding both schools and teachers accountable and about 60 percent support the Achievement School District.

The final aspect of the poll notes that over 70 percent of respondents agree that the "state should continue to provide parents with more options in where they send their children to school." About 87 percent of Republicans, 75 percent of Independents and 65 percent of Democrats surveyed agreed with the statement pertaining to more school options.

The survey was conducted before state officials canceled the contract it had with Measurement, Inc., the company which was tasked with handling standardized tests for students.

Tennessee terminates contract with TNReady test company

"While the delivery mechanism is frustrating, there is still an overwhelming amount of support for testing at the end of the year because we have to know that students are on track and we have to know that teachers are meeting those needs and we have to be able to provide teachers with the right professional development," said Adam Lister, president and CEO of Tennesseans for Student Success, which commissioned the poll.

When asked why the poll focused on Dickerson and Harwell's districts, Lister said they were a "really good representation of the city as a whole."

The survey, which was conducted April 12-14, has a margin of error of 5.6 percent.

Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.