Instructions

Any school or district serious about helping all children succeed will want to begin by asking members of the school community where they think schools do well and where they think schools can improve. The eight surveys linked to this page will help schools answer the question: “Where are we now?”

The surveys are based on the Seven Characteristics of Successful Schools. Click on a characteristic to learn more about it:

• Vision

• Leadership

• High Academic Standards

• Standards of the Heart

• Family, School, and Community Partnerships

• Professional Development

• Evidence of Success

Each survey is an online tool schools or districts can use to measure and report the perceptions of educators, parents, and community members concerning their school’s strengths and areas needing improvement. Schools can choose to ask participants to complete:

• One or more surveys, each based on one characteristic of successful schools.

• An Overview Survey containing information about all seven characteristics.

Results of the surveys will be tabulated for each participating school or district, providing a clear picture of strengths and needs in educating the hearts and minds of all students. Results are password protected and confidential. Use the surveys as one method for gathering data to develop improvement goals, focus resources, gauge community support, and guide school improvement efforts.

How were the surveys developed?

The surveys were developed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in cooperation with North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL). DPI devised survey questions from the Seven Characteristics of Effective Schools, research-based elements. DPI encourages schools to consider to help all students achieve academically and be caring, contributing, and responsible citizens. NCREL conducted a fully rotated factor analysis to verify the surveys’ ability to authentically measure respondent perceptions.

Who should complete a survey?

School administrators, teachers and other school staff, parents, and community members can complete the survey individually or as members of a school improvement team or other school planning committee. Districts will be encouraged to use the survey as one component of a larger school improvement effort, perhaps as a starting point for community discussion of how to improve areas needing attention, whether they are raising student reading achievement or improving student attendance.

How are survey results reported?

All survey results are confidential. Before beginning each survey, respondents are asked to identify themselves by:

• Affiliation with the school

• District or school and, if school building, by level

• Gender

• Ethnicity

For each question, respondents answer by clicking on one of the following:

• Strongly agree

• Agree

• Neutral

• Disagree

• Strongly disagree

Survey takers can leave items blank when they feel they don't know the information requested.

Survey results for each school or district will be reported in aggregate and can be broken down into each of the categories above. Each survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and file.

Where Do I Begin?

To set up a survey project for your school or district, click on Start A New Survey Project.

To take a survey that has been set up for your school or district, click on Participate In A Survey Project.

To see the results of completed surveys for your school or district click on View Results.

To preview the surveys before setting up a survey project, click on View A Sample Survey.