16 Oct 1998
Dallas Independent School District staff, students and parents are being asked to participate in a survey intended to gather input which will be used to strengthen district programs and get a better understanding of district needs. The survey will be administered the week of November 9.
"The Districtwide Survey will provide an opportunity to take a good look at our district to determine what is effective, what needs to change and what changes need to be implemented to keep up with the times," said General Superintendent James H. Hughey. "Though participation is voluntary, district employees, parents and students are encouraged to complete the questionnaire."
Feedback from the survey is confidential. Participants will have a choice to send their responses back to Sirota Consulting through the mail, the research company selected to conduct the survey. Surveys also could be dropped off at designated places in the schools and buildings.
Suggestions and input from district students in Grades 7-12, and a sample from students in Grades 5-6, will be part of the survey.
Measures are being taken to assure that a large number of people take part. The parents' survey, for example, has been printed in six languages—English, Spanish, Cambodian, Korean, Laotian and Vietnamese—to broaden the number of parents reached.
"We want to hear from every parent, student and staff member and we have taken measures to assure that everyone is included," said Hughey. "The larger the number of people who take part, the more complete and representative the information will be."
Five Commonly Asked Questions About the Districtwide Survey:
Q. Why is the survey being done?
A. To obtain system input on the educational process from employees, parents and students. The input will be used by the Dallas Independent School District Board of Education to assist the school district in setting overall strategic direction and assist individual campuses to make improvements as needed.
Q. When are we going to hear about the results?
A. Survey results will be shared throughout the district and schools. Results also will be communicated through district newsletters and information delivered to schools.
Q. How much money is the school district paying for the survey?
A. No district money will be used to pay for the survey. The survey is being funded by the business community and by the H. Ross Perot Foundation.
Q. Do I have to fill out a survey?
A. No. The survey is voluntary, no one has to take part. However, it will be ideal that the responses be complete and representative of the district population. The more input received, the more the schools will benefit.
Q. If the survey is confidential, why do they ask questions about race, gender, years of service?
A. These questions are asked to help consultants analyze the information more completely. The information is grouped and analyzed . No individual characteristics are ever reported back to the district.
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