SOUTH BEND — Results from a state-mandated climate and culture survey show that South Bend secondary students who participated feel detached when it comes to relationships with their teachers and teachers who took part feel they need more feedback.
Rafi Nolan-Abrahamian, South Bend Community School Corp.’s new executive director of strategic initiatives, dashboards and special projects, presented Indiana Department of Education Climate and Culture Survey results to the school board Monday during a special work session.
The surveys, which were sent to family members, students and teachers district-wide in February and March, cover a variety of topics. According to results, 819 parents, 7,407 students in grades three through 12 and 664 classroom teachers participated in the survey.
The data gathered from the survey is to be analyzed and used to help devise school improvement plans. Schools that are mandated to take part are ones that received an “F” letter grade or that fall at or below the lowest-performing 5% of all Title 1-served schools, according to the Indiana Department of Education.
Even though there were only a few schools in South Bend that were required to participate, Robin LeClaire, IDOE director of school improvement, said South Bend officials opted to have the survey administered to every school in the district. About 63% of South Bend students participated.
“South Bend was one of three districts in the state that chose to be proactive in that way,” LeClaire said.
Nolan-Abrahamian said the responses are compared to national statistics. Although response rates fell short of typical participation targets, he said they still provide a sufficient sample of parent, student and staff perceptions across the district.
Copyright © 2024, South Bend Tribune