Principal Survey

Appendix

School Survey

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1850-NEW v.1, 4260. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Ave, NW, Washington D.C. 20202-4537.

Thank you for participating in this important survey of schools.

Please enter the four-digit Survey Access Code that has been provided to you:

Survey Access Code:

(Please select “Next” to continue.)

I f you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

The U.S. Department of Education has contracted with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) team of researchers to conduct the study, Identifying Potentially Successful Approaches to Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools. As part of this effort, you have been invited to complete a 10- to 15-minute survey about the programs and initiatives at your school.

Your input will help policymakers identify best practices for addressing key issues facing schools receiving Title I funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR) is the firm that is administering the survey. If you have not completed the web survey within the next few days, a DIR interviewer will follow-up with you by phone to complete the survey.

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I f you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

Please be assured that your contact information and survey responses will be confidential and will not be used for commercial purposes. Results of the survey will be reported in the aggregate so there is no way to identify individual schools or administrators. 

If you have any questions about this survey, please feel free to contact Pam Wells, Director of Survey Operations at DIR. She can be reached toll-free at 1-888-864-1425 or via e-mail at pwells@dir-online.com.

Let’s begin.

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

SQ1.

In this survey, we will be asking a series of questions about the chronology of your school’s policies, programs and practices targeting improvement in student outcomes. Therefore, we need to determine whether you were present at your school during the time period of interest. Have you been at your current school (in any capacity) since the beginning of fall 2008?

• Yes

• No

IF SQ1=YES, GO TO A1.

IF SQ1=NO, GO TO SQ2.

SQ2.

We are interested in learning about the programs, policies, and practices implemented in your school since fall 2003. Since you are relatively new to your school, we’d like for you to identify another administrative staff member, department head, or teacher who is knowledgeable about the chronology of your school’s policies, programs and practices targeting improvement in student outcomes. We will email this staff member a link to complete the survey, so please select someone who you are confident can answer questions related to those areas.

Please enter the following information:

Name: __________________

Position:

Email Address: ___________________

Phone Number: ____________________

GO TO THANK YOU1.

Part A. School Information

The questions below ask about your experience at the school where you currently work. . Please answer the questions to the best of your ability.

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A1. What grade levels are served at your school?

Check all that apply

• Pre-K

• K

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

• 6

• 7

• 8

• 9

• 10

• 11

• 12

• Don’t Know

(Please select “Next” to continue.)

If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A1a. Are you the principal of this school?

• Yes

• No

IF A1a=YES, GO TO A2

IF A1a=NO, GO TO A3a

A2. What year did you become principal of this school?

[DROP DOWN BOX] _________ [RANGE YEARS Before Fall 2003)

Fall 2003

Fall 2004

Fall 2005

Fall 2006

Fall 2007

Fall 2008

Fall 2009

Fall 2010

IF A2= Fall 2003 or after GO TO A3

IF A2 = Before Fall 2003 GO TO A5

A3. Did you work at this school prior to becoming principal?

• Yes

• No

IF A3=YES, GO TO A3a

IF A3=NO, GO TO A4

A3a. What year did you first start working at this school?

DROP DOWN BOX] _________ [RANGE YEARS Before Fall 2003

Fall 2003

Fall 2004

Fall 2005

Fall 2006

Fall 2007

Fall 2008

Fall 2009

Fall 2010

A3b. What positions, if any, did you hold before your current position at this school? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

• None

• Vice Principal/Assistant Principal

• Counselor

• Teacher/Coach

• Other

Specify: _________________________

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A4. How many principals has this school had since fall 2003?

[DROP DOWN BOX] _________

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5 or more

• Don’t Know

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

These next questions focus on changes that may or may not have occurred at your school since fall 2003. Please answer these questions to the best of your ability.

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A5. Did the school begin enrolling children with stronger academic preparation after fall 2003?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF A5 = YES or DON’T KNOW, GO TO A6

IF A5 = NO ASK A5_o

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A5_o. What factors resulted in the school enrolling students with stronger academic preparation? Please indicate the year the school began to enroll students with stronger academic preparation?

[TEXT BOX 500 CHARACTERS]

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A6. Has the school used selective enrollment criteria or admission tests at any time since fall 2003?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF A6 = YES, ASK A6_oa

IF A6 = NO or DON’T KNOW, GO TO A7.

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A6_oa. In what years did selective enrollment exist at the school?

• 2003-2004

• 2004-2005

• 2005-2006

• 2006-2007

• 2007-2008

• 2008-2009

• 2009-2010

• Don’t Know

If A6oa = Don’t Know, GO TO A7.

A6_ob. Please describe how the student population has changed after the school implemented selective enrollment?

[TEXT BOX 500 CHARACTERS]

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

A7. Has your school been closed and re-opened or reconstituted since fall 2003?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF A7= YES, GO TO A7a

IF A7 = NO OR DON’T KNOW GO TO SECTION B

A7a. When did your school re-open or reconstitute?

Drop down:

Fall 2003

Fall 2004

Fall 2005

Fall 2006

Fall 2007

Fall 2008

Fall 2009

Fall 2010

Part B. External Support

The following questions focus on the improvement efforts that this school implemented in the period from fall 2003 through spring 2008. We know that all schools undertake a variety of activities towards improvement and we are asking you to remember what stood out as elements of your school’s improvement efforts during that period. Some of them may have continued through the present; others may have been used for a shorter time. Please answer these questions to the best of your ability.

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

B1. For this next set of questions, please tell us if your district did either of the following between fall 2003 and spring 2008:

		Yes		No	DK
B1a. The district notified your school that it was at risk of being closed. B1b. The district notified other schools that they were at risk of being closed.
Now, tell us to what extent your district did each of the following between fall 2003 and spring 2008. Tell us if they did these things a lot, somewhat, a little bit or not at all.
To what extent did your district …	Not at all	A little bit	Somewhat	A lot	I don’t know
B1c. Give your school more freedom to make decisions about improvement efforts?
B1d. Undergo substantial organizational changes (e.g., new district leadership, new data systems, partnership with another district or a university)?
B1e. Allocate additional resources to your school (i.e., for staffing, professional development, etc.)?

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

B2. Did your school collaborate with a private sector education management organization (EMO; e.g., Edison Learning, Charter Schools USA, Imagine Schools, Inc. or other organizations) between fall 2003 and spring 2008? EMOS are largely for-profit firms that provide “whole school operation” services to public school agencies.

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF B2 = YES, ASK B2_oa

IF B2 = NO or DON’T KNOW, GO TO B3

B2_oa. What is the name of the education management organization?

TEXT BOX 75 CHARACTERS

GO TO B2_ob.

B2_ob. In what years did your school collaborate with <fill from B2_oa.>?

DROP BOX ____________Years [NEED RANGE]

• 2003-2004

• 2004-2005

• 2005-2006

• 2006-2007

• 2007-2008

• Don’t Know

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

B3. Between fall 2003 and spring 2008, did your school implement a comprehensive, coherent, research-based school re-design process with assistance (materials, coaching, and professional development) from an external organization?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF B3 = YES, ASK B3_oa

IF B3 = NO or DON”T KNOW, GO TO SECTION C.

B3_oa. What school reform program or programs did your school implement? Please list all of the programs that your school implemented between fall 2003 and spring 2008.

Program 1 Text Box In what year was this program implemented? (drop box)

• 2003-2004

• 2004-2005

• 2005-2006

• 2006-2007

• 2007-2008

• Don’t Know

Program 2

Program 3

Program 4

TEXT BOX 75 CHARACTERS

(Please select “Next” to continue.)

If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

Part C. Staffing and Community Volunteers

This next series of questions are about improvement efforts that took place at your school between fall 2003 and spring 2008.

Please tell us if any of the following happened at your school and if so, to what extent it was a priority for your reform effort. Please answer these questions to the best of your ability.

C1a Did the school staff build sufficient trust and rapport to collaborate on school improvement efforts?

C1b. Did the school staff members who were uncommitted to change leave the school?

C1c. Did the school experience very little turnover among qualified teachers?

C1d. Did experienced, highly qualified teachers join the school?

C1e. Was the teacher’s job satisfaction high (e.g., they felt supported; they received incentives for success; they felt that they had a voice in important decision making)?

C1f. Did parents or community members work in partnership with the school?

	Did it happen?		To what extent was this a priority for your reform effort?
Agree/Disagree	Yes No		Not at all	A little bit	Somewhat	A lot	I don’t know
C1a. The school staff built sufficient trust and rapport to collaborate on school improvement efforts.	Yes	No
C1b.School staff members uncommitted to change left the school.	Yes	No
C1c. There was very little turnover of qualified teachers.	Yes	No
C1d. Experienced, qualified teachers joined the school.	Yes	No
C1e. Teachers’ job satisfaction was high (e.g., they felt supported; they received incentives for success; they felt that they had a voice in important decision making).	Yes	No
C1f. Parents and/or community members worked in partnership with the school.	Yes	No

(Please select “Next” to continue.)

If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to

Part D. School Improvement Practices

Now we would like you to answer a set of questions about other improvement efforts that took place at your school between fall 2003 and spring 2008. Please answer them to the best of your ability.

D1. To what extent did your school rely on each of the following strategies as part of your school improvement efforts from fall 2003 through spring 2008?

To what extent did your school rely on…?	Not at all	A little bit	Somewhat	A lot	I don’t know
D1a. Mentoring or professional development training for principals.
D1b. The principal making a point of spending substantial time observing classroom instruction, meeting with teachers to talk about instruction and student learning, or focusing on your faculty’s professional development needs.
D1c. The principal NOT making all the decisions, rather he/she emphasized involving other staff members and teachers in major decisions and developing their leadership skills.

(Please select “Next” to continue.)

If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

D2. To what extent did your school engage in any of the following professional development strategies as part of your school improvement efforts from fall 2003 to spring 2008?

	At least Weekly	At least monthly	At least four times a year	At least once a year	Never	DK
To what extent did your school engage in…? D2a. In-service for all staff that was aligned with student data and school improvement goals?
D2b. Classroom observations and debriefing by instructional leaders at the school (e.g., principal, assistant principal, coach, lead teacher, etc.)?
D2c. Bringing outside experts into the school?
D2d. Coaching as a follow up to professional development?

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

D3. To what extent did your school rely on any of the following instructional and classroom management strategies as part of your school improvement efforts from fall 2003 to spring 2008?

To what extent did your school rely on …	Not at all	A little bit	Somewhat	A lot	I don’t know
D3a. Project-based learning (e.g., using hands-on, inquiry-based activities)?
D3b. Cooperative learning (e.g., peer tutoring, learning in small groups)?
D3c. Tiered interventions (e.g., targeted / pull out services to struggling students, intensive support to students who do not respond to other interventions)?
D3d.Tutoring or other forms of individualized instruction for struggling students during the school day? D3e. Computer-assisted instruction?
D3f. New curriculum reading/language arts?
D3g. New curriculum in mathematics? D3h. Extended class periods or block scheduling?

(Please select “Next” to continue.)

If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

D4. To what extent did your school rely on the following uses of data for instructional decision making strategies (as part of your school improvement efforts) from fall 2003 to spring 2008?

To what extent did your school rely on …	Not at all	A little bit	Somewhat	A lot	I don’t know
D4a. Reviewing student data as part of grade-level or subject-area team meetings?
D4b. Providing technical assistance, support, and training to classroom teachers about analyzing and interpreting student data?
D4c. Carrying out intervention team or data team meetings to discuss plans for collecting and analyzing student data?
D4d. Reviewing and aligning school improvement plans, formative and summative assessment plans, or professional development plans, after identifying patterns in student data?

D5. Did your school change its daily schedule from fall 2003 to spring 2008?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF D5 = YES, GO TO D6

IF D5 = NO or DON’T KNOW, GO TO D8

D6. Were there extended learning time opportunities available between fall 2003 and spring 2008?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF D6 = YES, GO TO D7

IF D6 = NO or DON’T KNOW, GO TO D8

D7. Which of the following extended learning time opportunities were provided on your school campus between fall 2003 and spring 2008?

(Select all the apply)

1. After-school academic interventions or supplemental educational services (SES) for struggling students

2. Expanded school day

3. Expanded school year

4. Other (please specify)

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

D8. Did your school increase its focus on new teacher support between fall 2003 and spring 2008?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

IF D7 = YES, GO TO D8

IF D7 =NO or DON’T KNOW, GO TO D9

D9. Which of the following new teacher supports were provided?

(Select all that apply)

1. Teacher induction programs

2. Teacher mentor programs

3. Formal orientation

4. Exemption from extracurricular responsibilities

5. Assignment to less challenging classes

6. Don’t Know

D10. Did your school substantially reduce class size / teacher-student ratios in any grades between fall 2003 and spring 2008?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

D11. Did your school substantially revise your procedures for communications with families and the community between fall 2003 and spring 2008?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

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If you need assistance completing this survey, please contact DIR by sending an email to surveyoperations@dir-online.com

D11. Did your school substantially revise your programs and policies to reduce behavior problems between fall 2003 and spring 2008?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t Know

D12. Is there anything else you would like to add about school improvement efforts conducted since spring 2008?

TEXT BOX 500 CHARACTERS

GO TO THANK YOU2

THANK YOU2

Thank you very much for answering the questions for this study.  Your answers will help researchers better understand important issues that are facing administrators and teachers that are having experiences similar to yours.

Your participation in this survey is critical to the success of this effort. As a token of appreciation, you $25 cash gift card for completing this survey will arrive in the mail in 3 weeks.

Please enter the mailing address below where you would like us to send your gift card (if no address is provided, we will send your gift card to you care of your school address):

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
E-mail:

Your answer to question Telephone Number: must be a valid U.S. or Canadian Phone Number.

Could you please provide your 10-digit telephone number where you can be reached in case we have any problems with your gift card?

Please be assured that this information will be kept strictly confidential.

Telephone Number:

Is it better to call you in the daytime, evenings, or both at this number?

Daytime
Evenings
Both

THANK YOU1

Thank you for recommending another staff member to complete this important survey. We will contact them immediately. Please alert them that we will be contacting them at your request. If you have any questions about this survey, please feel free to contact Pam Wells via e-mail at pwells@dir-online.com or at 1-888-864-1425 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Thank you for contributing your time and thoughtful responses to this important study. If you have any questions about this survey, please feel free to contact Pam Wells via e-mail at pwells@dir-online.com or at 1-888-864-1425 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Daylight Time.