Valley View to Administer State Survey of School Climate

Submitted by Valley View School District 365U

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Valley View School District 365U will again partner with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in administering the Illinois 5Essentials statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions from Jan. 11 to March 11.

Because participants are asked to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their local school’s learning environment, the 20-minute research-based survey provides a unique opportunity for parents, teachers and students in middle and high school to have a voice in improving their schools. VVSD uses the survey as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide administration.

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“Based on input from last year’s survey, we have been able to place a renewed focus on the climate and learning conditions in all of our schools. This year’s 5Essentials Survey gives us an opportunity to reflect on our progress over the past year,” said VVSD Superintendent Dr. James Mitchem. “We encourage all of our teachers, students and parents to make their voices heard.”

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides a comprehensive picture of each 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.

Twenty 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 school success.

Beginning Jan. 11, teachers, students, and parents may complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey online at https://illinois.5-essentials.org. A link will also be available starting Jan. 11 at www.vvsd.org and on the VVSD Mobile App.