Between 1983 and 1984, tax referenda for Sauk Valley College (SVC) were on the ballot three times. Research conducted before and after the tax referendum failed to pass in November 1983 provided the basis for strategy enhancement that brought SVC closer to its goal in March 1984 and finally to the achievement of the goal in November. In October…

This paper reports preliminary findings from data gathering efforts of the Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) Commission on Developing Public Confidence in the Schools, and then charts several applications of some confidence-building techniques. A pilot test identified factors that caused people to gain or lose confidence in schools. Respondents (N=409)…

Beginning with a review of signs and signals of public attitudes toward American education over the last 15 years, this paper analyzes some concerns regarding public confidence in public schools. Following a brief introduction, issues involved in the definition and behavioral attributes of confidence are mentioned. A synopsis of three approaches…