You’ve opened this email because you care about and are working toward improving family-school partnerships. But how do we know if your efforts are having an impact?
The School Climate and Connectedness Survey is one good source. Students, staff, and families are taking this perception survey this spring. This year, the surveys are shorter and easier to complete than ever. But even with a shorter survey, schools will need to be strategic about getting feedback from their families.
Here are some tips we’ve heard from schools across Alaska:
- Incentivize! From hosting ice cream socials to offering free entry to basketball games for survey completion, a small incentive can go a long way.
- Remind, remind, REMIND. People need to see things seven times before they act on them. Be persistent with survey reminders, and don’t forget to use social media and communication apps like Remind to share survey links.
- Put a laptop, iPad or paper copy of the survey in parents’ hands while they are waiting for conferences, concerts, or games to start.
Find more tips, flyers, and sample letters to share with families here.
Thirty-three Alaskan school districts are taking the survey, including all of the Alaska Family Engagement Center partner districts. The results are available quickly – usually by the end of the school year. Districts can tap into free support for analyzing and facilitating conversations around the results. Contact Kami Moore, kmoore@aasb.org, to schedule a session.
Bonus tip: If you’re looking for feedback from your families right now, consider asking them! “What’s the best way to share information from you?” or “How is your child feeling about school this year?”