Valley View Seeks Input on School Climate from Students, Parents, Teachers

Valley View School District 365U will join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in administering the third annual statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions known as 5Essentials from Jan. 12 through March 13.

The survey provides a unique opportunity for teachers, students, and parents to have a voice in improving their schools by taking a 20-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in the learning environment at individual VVSD schools. The survey will serve as an opportunity for VVSD and its schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation.

“We encourage all our teachers, students, and parents to make their voices heard,” said Dr. James A. Mitchem Jr., VVSD’s Superintendent.

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 including effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families,

supportive environment, and ambitious instruction.

According to ISBE, University of Chicago research conducted in more than 400 schools over two decades 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 accounting 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.

“The State Board is committed to helping schools build more complete pictures of their learning conditions, to better 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 inform district improvement efforts.”

VVSD administrators will receive their 5Essentials Reports in May 2015. Survey results will also be reported to the public on the 2015 State School Report Card website.

A direct link to the 5Essentials Survey will be available after Jan. 12 at www.vvsd.org as well as on all VVSD individual school websites.

More information is available by visiting https://illinois.5-essentials.org.