Valley View Community Asked to Take Survey on School Climate, Learning Conditions

Valley View Community Unit School District 365U will join the Illinois State Board of Education and schools throughout the state in administering the second annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey of school climate and learning conditions from March 17 to April 25.

The survey provides a unique opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to have a voice in improving their schools.  The 20-minute research-based survey is designed to help identify strengths and weaknesses in individual schools’ learning environments.     

“We encourage all of our students in 6th through 12th grade, teachers, parents and community members to make their voices heard through this survey,” said VVSD Superintendent Dr. James Mitchem.

The Illinois 5Essentials 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, and Ambitious Instruction.

According to ISBE officials, 20 years of University of Chicago research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of the 5Essentials 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, 5Essentials Reports demonstrate that what teachers and students say about their schools can serve as important indicators for a school’s success. In last year’s inaugural Illinois 5Essentials Survey, 87 percent of all schools in the state met the 50-percent participation threshold to receive a Report with participation from more than 70 percent of all teachers and eligible 6th through 12th graders across Illinois.

A link to the survey will be available at www.vvsd.org beginning March 17. It will also be available by going tohttps://illinois.5-essentials.org.

“The State Board continues its commitment to helping schools provide a more complete picture of their learning conditions and guide state and local efforts for school improvement,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides an important chance for schools to check in with their communities and gather critical feedback to validate district improvement efforts.”

Principals and superintendents will receive their 5Essentials Reports this summer. Survey results will be reported on the 2014 State School Report Card website. Beginning this year, surveys will be normed using the 2013 statewide results so that all schools can demonstrate progress over time.