This survey assesses the local impact and issues presented in the National Commission on Excellence in Education's report, entitled "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform." Macomb County, Michigan, residents no longer view unemployment as their number one problem. Although unemployment remains a major concern, almost one-third of the county's households cite high taxes as their main problem. A distant third (6 percent) is the concern for quality schools and education. Two weeks after its release, of the 37 percent of the residents aware of the federal report, 43 percent offered agreement with either its accuracy or results; 9 percent disagreed with the report. Among all county residents, 83 percent think the nation is risking the well-being of its people because of educational shortcoming, and 71 percent give improvement in education a high or top priority. County residents support: (1) an increase in the number and extent of basic required courses; (2) required standardized exit exams for high school graduation; (3) a greater amount of student homework; (4) a longer school day, but not a longer school year; and (5) increased and performance-based teachers' salaries, tied to an effective evaluation system. (Author/PN)