U-46 joins in seventh Illinois 5Essentials Survey to improve student learning

Elgin Area School District U-46 is joining the Illinois State Board of Education again in the seventh statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions.

From now through Jan. 18, parents, students, and teachers have the opportunity to take the annual 15-minute research-based survey.

"We encourage every parent, student, and teacher to let their voice be heard through this confidential survey," said U-46 CEO Tony Sanders. "The results provide valuable feedback to help us identify our strengths as well as our opportunities for improvement."

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school's organizational culture in an individualized report focused on five elements or "essentials" that have proved to influence school success:

• Effective leaders

• Collaborative teachers

• Involved families

• Supportive environment

• Ambitious instruction

The survey has historically captured feedback from sixth- through 12th- graders.

This year, the Illinois State Board of Education has expanded the eligible student population to include fourth and fifth graders.

To take the survey, parents are instructed to visit survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and answer important questions about their child's school.

Parents can complete a survey for each child and their school. At least 20 percent of a school's parent population must submit a completed survey in order for the state to generate survey results.

The survey is mobile friendly and available in English and Spanish. Students and teachers will have the opportunity to take the survey while they are at school.

Those results can inspire a school to try new approaches or efforts to improve leadership, instruction, staff collaboration, or school climate and culture.

At Sycamore Trails Elementary in Bartlett, for instance, the 5Essentials parental feedback led to the creation of a "Safety Pledge" to help keep students safe during arrival and dismissal, more after-school offerings, and a sixth-grade parent panel to support students transitioning to middle school.

U-46 parents, students and teachers with any questions on 5Essentials are encouraged to use "Let's Talk."