District 15 survey to improve student learning

Students, parents and teachers weigh in on school climate and learning conditions

Submitted by District 15

Community Consolidated School District 15 will join the Illinois State Board of Education in the statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions.

The Illinois 5 Essentials Survey provides a unique opportunity for teachers, students, and parents to have a voice in improving their schools. It is open through Friday, March 13.

Teachers, students, and parents will be asked to take a 20-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school's learning environment. This survey will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation.

The Illinois 5 Essentials Survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school's organizational culture in an individualized report measuring five "essentials" critical for school success:

• Effective leaders

• Collaborative teachers

• Involved families

• Supportive environment

• Ambitious instruction

Twenty years of University of Chicago research in more than 400 schools has shown schools that were strong on at least three of the 5 Essentials were 10 times more likely to make substantial gains in improving student reading and math than schools that were weak on three or more of the Essentials. Those differences remained true even after controlling for student and school characteristics, including poverty, race, gender, and neighborhood characteristics. Strength on components within the Essentials also correlated with increased teacher retention, student attendance, college enrollment, and high school graduation.

Generated from a rigorous analysis of teacher and student survey responses, 5 Essentials Reports demonstrate that what teachers and students say about their schools can serve as important indicators for school success. In the inaugural 2012-2013 statewide Illinois 5 Essentials Survey, 87 percent of all schools in the state met the 50 percent participation threshold to receive a 5 Essentials Report, with participation from more than 70 percent of all teachers and eligible students from sixth through 12th grades across Illinois.

"The State Board is committed to helping schools build more complete pictures of their learning conditions, to better guide state and local efforts for school improvement," said Christopher A. Koch, state superintendent of education. "The Illinois 5 Essentials Survey provides an important chance for schools to check in with their communities and gather critical feedback to inform district improvement efforts."

In 2015, all districts will have the option to participate and are encouraged to do so. Districts participating in Race to the Top, and those that did not participate in the survey last year, are required under state law to participate. Community Consolidated School District 15 issued the 5 Essentials survey to students and teachers during its inaugural administration in 2012-13, and-to meet state legislation and ISBE's mandate-it will administer the survey in 2015 to learn how schools are doing on the 5 Essentials for school success.

Principals and superintendents will receive their 5 Essentials Reports in May 2015. Survey results will also be reported publicly on the 2015 State School Report Card website and the full 5 Essentials Reports will also be released in the fall.

District 15 has chosen to provide the optional 5 Essentials parent survey. If at least 20 percent of each individual school's parents complete this survey, a parent supplement will also be generated. The parent data will not be reported on the State Report Card-only in individual school 5 Essentials Reports.

Since 2013-14, the Illinois 5 Essentials Survey has been formed using the 2012-13 statewide results so that all schools can demonstrate progress over time.

On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, UChicago Impact is providing Illinois 5 Essentials to schools statewide. Teachers, students, and parents may complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey online. For more information visit https://illinois.5-essentials.org.