Ideas for Administering the School Climate Surveys

There are numerous ways school staff could administer the school climate surveys to students. Consider these ideas as you plan to conduct the online surveys in your school.

Keep the survey window short.
The online survey will be available to internet users for the dates you set as project manger. This means anyone having your project password and access to the web can go into the surveys and fill one out about your school. To minimize the chance that individual students will log on and take the survey numerous times, limit the survey window to a day or two.

Designate specific times/locations for students to take the survey.
Consider having all students take the survey during the same class period if each classroom has adequate numbers of computers to serve all students. Consider designating computer classes or the IMC as the site for survey taking. Again, limit the survey window to 1 or 2 days.

Remember to include all students in your survey.
Students with visual impairments or motor skills difficulties will need assistance in completing the surveys on line. If your school has a large number of visually impaired students, consider having the survey translated into Braille and then having someone enter the completed surveys into the database. Students with cognitive disabilities or poor reading skills may need the help of an adult staff or family member to read and answer the questions. Consider sending a paper/pencil version home with these students and ask parents to help their student complete the survey. English language learners may need their surveys translated.

Plan to conduct the survey on a regular basis.
Results of all surveys are stored indefinitely in the data base. This means you can survey students each year and compare results over time. When you re-administer the survey, do so at the same time of year as the previous survey so valid comparisons can be made.

Carefully consider the timing of your survey.
You want to get an "average" perception of how students feel about your school. Avoid conducting the surveys close to the beginning or end of the school year. Try to administer the surveys mid-year.