MISSION VIEJO, Calif. – A recently released survey of the Association of American Educators (AAE), the nation’s largest non-union educator’s association, shows a large majority of those surveyed favor bold school reform measures.

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The 2015 survey reveals members strongly support school choice, the implementation of new technology in the classroom, adequate teacher preparation, teachers’ role in leadership and open collective bargaining.

Sr. Director of Communications and Advocacy Alexandra Freeze tells EAGnews the 20,000 members of AAE are not in lockstep with what the unions are doing and proposing.

“I think teachers are certainly willing to embrace a lot of different reforms…They’re seeing some of these reforms be successful not only for students but also for themselves, whether that’s choice in charter schools and different opportunities which provides them with some flexibility and some autonomy. So reform isn’t just for students. It’s for teachers, and we certainly do a good job of engaging teachers in a dialogue about what these reforms actually mean.”

In a news release, AAE Executive Director Gary Beckner wrote, “The opinions expressed in this survey are those of real educators, not bureaucrats or union leaders with preset agendas.”

AAE states that while the “establishment” sees school choice as a threat to their unionized monopoly, AAE members support laws that advance school choice and promote options for both teachers and students.

Some of the survey results are as follows:

* 97% of surveyed teachers support public charter schools.
* 94% of teachers support course choice allowing students to craft custom educational plans via different providers.
* 56% of AAE members support Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), allowing parents of special needs students to choose a school that best suits their child’s needs.
* 92% of AAE members utilize technology in their classrooms.
* 67% of survey respondents agree with a proposal that would require students to take an online course to graduate.
* 68% of teachers would support a blended learning environment where students spend part of their day with a teacher and part of their day on a computer.
* 76% agree with a National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) report that recommends rigorous teacher preparation requirements, including a 3.0 GPA and the passage of subject-matter tests to gain entry into teaching programs.

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Another finding found that 37% of AAE members admit not feeling prepared for the classroom after traditional college of education experiences.  Freeze says, “I think a lot more on-the-job training is something that needs to be explored in the future.”

Additionally, 66% agree that to attract new teachers and those with experience in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects education needs to explore alternative certifications, allowing degreed professionals easier paths to the classroom. “And just the way the teaching profession is changing, the way our economy is changing we certainly need to be willing to embrace career professionals who are coming from diverse backgrounds,” according to Freeze.

Other survey findings:

* 60% of teachers supported a North Carolina bill that proposed an 11% pay raise in exchange for giving up traditional tenure.
* 71% of those surveyed are interested in a hybrid teaching role that would encompass teaching in the classroom part time with additional leadership roles in a school/ district.
* 67% of survey respondents agree with a new Colorado law requiring school boards to let the public observe collective bargaining negotiations.
* 93% of teachers agree with a Massachusetts law calling for every employee who may be alone with students to be fingerprinted in order to check for arrests and convictions nationwide.
* 86% of teachers support a California law designed to protect personal student information.
* 64% of those surveyed would prefer to negotiate their own contract so that they can negotiate a salary and benefits package that best suits their lifestyle.

AAE began in 1994 and Freeze tells EAGnews that since 2005 the organization has seen a 20% annual growth rate, making them the largest nonunion teacher association.

Complete survey results can be found at: www.aaeteachers.org/natsurvey.