Two years ago, education ranked as the most important issue in America. In a new poll conducted by the Lake Research Partners and released by the Public Education Network, education ranked third as the most important issue to Americans. It was a distant third (12%) to gas prices (22%) and jobs and the economy (19%) but ahead of health care(11%) taxes (8%) crimes/drugs(8%) and homeland security (4%). The poll conducted in May was based on 1,200 adults.