By Illinois Radio Network
LEROY – Schools across Illinois are sending off the results of their latest climate survey, dubbed the the 5Essential Survey, but there are questions about what will become of the answers.
The 5Essential Survey is an attempt by the Illinois State Board of Education to measure school climate. ISBE in essence wants to get a snapshot of how schools teach, how students learn, and how parents feel about what they are getting for their tax dollars.
Not every school takes the 5Essential Survey, and oftentimes tiny percentages of students and parents even bother to respond.
For example, in 2016 at Lincoln Community High School, 20 percent of teachers responded to the 5Essential Survey. One percent of parents did as well, and just one-tenth of a percent of students answered the survey’s questions.
LeRoy Schools Superintendent Gary Tipsord said the low response rate is one reason why he offers a different survey.
“I think the purpose, for most schools, with a climate survey is to understand the people that they serve,” Tipsord said. “And how are they going to use that information to initialize change or address concerns that exist. Or celebrate successes.”
ISBE declined to make anyone available to answer questions about the survey, what will become of the data gathered, or if the survey is meaningful because so few students and parents participate.
Tipsord said schools and parents have been asking those same questions for years.
“What is the impact of this survey on the state report card?” Tipsord asked. “What information is being gleaned from this that is purposeful for parents?”
Tipsord said that his school uses a different climate survey to measure how well teachers are teaching, if students are learning, and if parents are happy with what they’re paying for.
Parents can find their kids’ 5Essential results, if there are any, at ISBE’s website.
