As part of the Teacher Excellence Initiative, the district is committed to identifying, supporting and rewarding effective teachers.
But how, exactly, are effective teachers identified? Teachers are evaluated on their performance in the classroom, student achievement results, and for many, the results of a confidential student perception survey that will be administered early next month.
Here is what to know about the survey.
What is the student perception survey?
The student perception survey is a research-based survey that will be administered to students in grades 3-12 and be available in English and Spanish. Each student will complete two surveys. The survey will provide feedback to teachers and input for the teacher’s evaluation. The survey asks questions about the students’ perception about their teacher’s level of care, support, and expectations for their students, as well as their instructional methods and delivery.
Why is the survey important?
The survey is being conducted to better understand the perceptions and instructional needs of its students, and the results will be used to evaluate and improve teacher effectiveness. The district is working towards a goal of having an effective teacher in every classroom, which makes the identification of existing effective teachers important. For qualifying teachers, the survey results will count as fifteen percent of their evaluation.
When will the survey be administered?
Students will take the survey during the week of April 6–10. Each school’s administration will select a date during that week to administer the survey. Surveys will be administered by teachers. However, Dallas lSD has taken precautions to ensure confidentiality so that students can provide objective feedback. Secondary students will take the survey in their second period class, and elementary students will take the survey in their homeroom class sometime before lunch.
How long will the survey take?
Each survey is expected to take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Each student will complete two surveys. The entire process of the survey administration is expected to take no more than one hour.
What students will receive the survey?
The survey is available to students in grades 3–12 that meet attendance, instructional setting, and language proficiency criteria. The survey is available for students in English and Spanish. The district will also provide accommodations for students.
Is the survey the same for every grade?
No. There are two separate versions of the survey, one for students in grades 3-5 and another version for students in grades 6-12.
What types of questions will be asked in the survey?
The survey asks students questions about their perceptions of their teacher’s level of care, support, and expectations of them, as well as their teacher’s instructional methods and delivery. The survey also asks students questions about their perception of the classroom climate and their own level of engagement.
All questions asked in the survey are available for review online here.
Will students complete the survey for each of their teachers?
No. Students will complete a survey for two of their teachers. A random sampling model has determined what students will complete surveys for which of their two teachers. The questions are not intended to be a popularity contest.
Who came up with the survey?
The survey was developed by Panorama Education under the leadership of Dr. Hunter Gehlbach, Associate Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Panorama Education designed the survey exclusively for use with teachers.
The Measures of Effective Teaching study showed a strong correlation between student responses on surveys and their achievement. This is why surveys will be used in conjunction with teacher performance and student achievement data to measure teacher effectiveness.
For more information on the survey, click here.
