AMERICANS OPPOSE CUTBACKS IN FEDERAL STUDENT AID - POLL SAYS - Vol.13 - No.128

Sep 28, 2026

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Americans oppose reducing federal student aid for higher education, according to a Gallup survey. Thirty-three percent say the amount is too low, while only fourteen percent say it is too high. Nearly forty percent believe aid levels are about right. The poll reports broad support for increasing federal aid over state funding and strong interest in teacher competency exams, with many also pointing to difficulties hiring qualified teachers and favoring higher teacher salaries.

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AMERICANS OPPOSE CUTBACKS IN FEDERAL STUDENT AID,POLL SAYS

NEA OPPosed

PREPARATORY PROGRAM BOLSTERS MINORITY MEDICAL ENROLLMENT

Vol.13,No.128 # AMERICANS OPPOSE CUTBACKS IN FEDERAL STUDENT AID,POLL SAYS Americans oppose cutting back federal student aid to higher education,accord-ing to a Gallup survey released yesterday. Of those polled,33 percent said the amount of student aid the governmentallots is too low,but only 14 percent said it is too high,the survey showed. Nearly 40 percent of people believe the amount of aid the federal governmentprovides college students is about right,the poll says. Federal Aid PreferredThe Gallup poll,commissioned by the National Edu-cation Association(NEA)and released at the NEA's annual convention inWashington,D.C.,1s based on findings of a telephone survey of 1,501 adultsconducted April 29-May 20. More than half of those surveyed favor increasing federal aid rather than stateaid to state universities,the poll said.Americans believe federal aid shouldbe increased 10 percent and state aid decreased 8 percent,the pol1 said. Moreover,60 percent of those polled favor some kind of teacher competency examfor all teachers to improve the quality of education. NEA OPPposedThe competency test results were unwelcome newe for the NEA,which supports testing of teacher candidates during preparation programs butdoes not endorse a national exam for experienced teachers(ED,June 27)。 "I'm disappointed that support for competency testing is so high,but at leastI know that we're on the same wavelength as the public,"NEA executive directorDon Cameron said in a statement.NEA wants“a competent professional in everyclassroom in these United States.Where we differ in on the means to achievethat goal,"he said. According to the survey,57 percent of those surveyed believe schools havetrouble getting qualified teachers.More adults 11ving in the South and inlarge cities cited this problem,said Gallup project director Larry Hugick. The NEA supports rigorous testing of teacher candidates during preparationprograms,but it does not endorse a standardized exam for experienced teachers. Instead,NEA favors a classroom evaluation program where an administrator goesinto the classroom,observes the teacher,then meets with the teacher's super-visor to discuss problems,said NEA deputy executive director Gary Watts at anews conference Monday.(more) July 2,1985 # AMERICANS OPPOSE CUTBACKS IN FEDERAL STUDENT AID,POLL SAYS(Cont.) NEA delegates will vote today on a resolution calling for teacher exams for newteachers.That proposal is expected to pass,NEA President Mary HatwoodFutrell said. More than 60 percent polled said education can be improved by increasing teach-er salaries.They said low salaries are the chief reason top talent is notattracted into the classroom,and they said teachers should earn up to 20 per-cent more than they currently do.Teacher salaries currently average $23,500. Americans also say they are willing to support higher-quality education withmore tax dollars,the poll indicated.Fifty-two percent favored more funds forpublic education and teacher training,even if that means higher taxes.--Jennifer L.Janson # PREPARATORY PROGRAM BOLSTERS MINORITY MEDICAL ENROLLMENT With a decade-long trend of static enrollment for minority medical students,competition for minorities among medical schools has led an Illinois school tooffer minorities a discount to take its medical school preparatory program。 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale(SIUC)has spiced up its 16-year-oldpost-baccalaureate program that prepares minority students to study medicineand dentistry,in an attempt to increase enrollment at its own medical school. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges,the pool of minor-ities applying to medical schools has not grown since it peaked in the 1970s.In the 1975-76 school year,7.5 percent of medical school applicants wereblack,compared to 6.8 percent in the 1984-85 school year(HED,June 11). As part of a three-year,$227,541 grant from the Department of Health and H

FAQs

What do Americans think about federal student aid levels?

Thirty-three percent say federal student aid allotments are too low, and fourteen percent say they are too high. Nearly forty percent believe the current level is about right.

How does the survey describe preferences between federal and state aid?

More than half favor increasing federal aid rather than state aid to state universities, with the poll citing a desired federal increase and a state decrease.

What education measures do respondents support according to the survey?

Sixty percent favor some form of teacher competency exam for all teachers. More than 60 percent also say education can improve through increasing teacher salaries, with low pay identified as a key barrier to attracting talent.

Sep 28, 2026

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