Broadly, all surveys seek to identify schools’ strengths and areas for improvement.
The student survey explores whether students feel safe, supported, and welcome on their campus by their peers , school staff, and administrators. They are asked whether they feel their school is adequately preparing them for what comes after school, and whether they feel school policies are fair, clearly explained, and consistent. Other questions address student safety and how they feel the school handles bullying.
The family survey asks caregivers for help identifying strengths and areas for improvement, whether they believe their child is getting a high-quality education, and whether they would recommend the school to another family. Questions address whether the school respects people from different backgrounds and makes families feel valued, welcome, and included. The survey also assesses whether families believe the school is safe and that discipline practices are fair and consistently applied.
The staff survey gauges perceptions of the quality of education that students receive and whether staff consider the school to be a good place to work. It also assesses campus culture, measures whether staff feel informed about policies and procedures, and asks how effectively educators work together to improve instructional practices.
In addition, the surveys collect some data used to broadly categorize responses by race, ethnicity, and gender identity or expression. This is done because California education code and state law guarantee certain groups equal educational opportunities and treatment. By collecting this data, which is anonymous on an individual level, our schools can ensure they are meeting their legal and moral commitments to groups that historically have experienced higher rates of bullying or disparate educational outcomes.
