By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Director of Parent and Community Relations
The vast majority of nearly 1,000 parents who responded to an electronic survey say the New Haven Unified School District meets their children’s academic and social needs, provides a safe learning environment, practices equity and communicates effectively. And the District’s marks in virtually every area have improved – sometimes dramatically so – in comparison to a similar survey taken in 2010.
A total of 952 parents responded to District-wide and school-specific automated phone invitations to participate in the survey, which was open from April 10 through May 4. The response rate – roughly13 percent of the District’s approximately 7,500 households – is about average for such surveys.
Asked whether they “strongly agree,” “agree,” “disagree” or “strongly disagree,” with a particular statement, 88 percent agreed or strongly agreed that their children’s academic needs were being met at school, up 2 percent from a similar survey in 2010, and 92 percent agreed or strongly agreed that their children’s social needs were being met at school, up 4 percent.
Ninety percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their children felt safe while at school, up 1 percent from 2010, and 88 percent agreed or strongly agreed that their children felt safe going to and from school, up 2 percent.
Superintendent Kari McVeigh said she was particularly pleased with responses regarding the District’s efforts to address equity issues, as 92 percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that teachers and/or staff at their children’s school treat students and families from all groups equitably, up 15 percent from 2010. And 92 percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their children’s school offers the same opportunities for success to all students, regardless of income, up 7 percent.
In addition, 92 percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that students were treated with respect by teachers, up 3 percent from 2010, and 96 percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that they were treated with respect by teachers, also up 3 percent. At the same time, 94 percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that they were treated with respect by administrators, up 7 percent, and 95 percent agreed or strongly agreed that they were treated with respect by other school staff members, also up 7 percent. And 87 percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that they have access to their child’s principal or assistant principals, up 9 percent.
“Those responses, I think, indicate that our teachers, classified employees and administrators all are working on becoming for responsive and more client-friendly,” Superintendent McVeigh said.
“That’s something our employees can be particularly proud of, especially with the number of cuts we’ve had to make in the past two years, because teachers have larger classes, classified employees are dealing with more requests and many of our administrators are covering duties that two or even three employees used to perform.”
Asked about communications, 89 percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that District communications are clear, timely and provide useful information, up 6 percent from 2010, and 86 percent agreed or strongly agreed that school-site communications are clear, timely and provide useful information, up 2 percent. There was a slight drop, however, in the percentage of parents who agreed or strongly agreed that they receive sufficient communication concerning their children’s academic performance, from 84 percent to 82 percent.
District-wide results:
My child’s academic needs are met at the school: Strongly Agree 34%, Agree 54%, Disagree 10%, Strongly Disagree 2% (949 responses).
My child’s social needs are met at the school: Strongly Agree 36%, Agree 56%, Disagree 6%, Strongly Disagree 2% (947 responses).
My child’s school maintains and clearly communicates high standards for students: Strongly Agree 35%, Agree 51%, Disagree 12%, Strongly Disagree 2% (950 responses).
Teachers and other staff members are highly effective: Strongly Agree 34%, Agree 51%, Disagree 13%, Strongly Disagree 2% (947 responses).
I receive sufficient communication (progress reports, report cards, teacher contact, Parent Connect, etc.) concerning my child’s academic performance: Strongly Agree 42%, Agree 40%, Disagree 14%, Strongly Disagree 4% (949 responses).
Communications from my child’s school are clear, timely and provide useful information: Strongly Agree 39%, Agree 47%, Disagree 12%, Strongly Disagree 2% (950 responses).
Communications from the District are clear, timely and provide useful information: Strongly Agree 32%, Agree 57%, Disagree 9%, Strongly Disagree 2% (946 responses).
I feel that I have access to the principal/assistant principal at my child’s school when needed: Strongly Agree 36%, Agree 51%, Disagree 9%, Strongly Disagree 24% (939 responses).
My child feels safe going to and from school: Strongly Agree 38%, Agree 50%, Disagree 9%, Strongly Disagree 3% (949 responses).
My child feels safe while at school: Strongly Agree 40%, Agree 50%, Disagree 8%, Strongly Disagree 2% (949 responses).
The teachers show respect for the students at my child’s school: Strongly Agree 41%, Agree 51%, Disagree 7%, Strongly Disagree 2% (945 responses).
I am treated with respect by teachers: Strongly Agree 46%, Agree 50%, Disagree 3%, Strongly Disagree 1% (944 responses).
I am treated with respect by administrators: Strongly Agree 43%, Agree 52%, Disagree 5%, Strongly Disagree 1% (937 responses).
I am treated with respect by other school staff: Strongly Agree 41%, Agree 54%, Disagree 4%, Strongly Disagree 1% (932 responses).
There is respect among students of different cultural and racial backgrounds at my child’s school? Strongly Agree 33%, Agree 50%, Disagree 14%, Strongly Disagree 3% (943 responses).
The teachers and/or staff at my child’s school treat students and families from all groups equitably: Strongly Agree 38%, Agree 54%, Disagree 14%, Strongly Disagree 3% (931 responses).
The school offers the same opportunities for success to all students, regardless of income: Strongly Agree 41%, Agree 50%, Disagree 6%, Strongly Disagree 3% (931 responses).
I receive and read the District “E-News” electronic newsletter: Strongly Agree 43%, Agree 30%, Disagree 18%, Strongly Disagree9% (938 responses).
I use Parent Connect to get information about my child’s progress: Strongly Agree 35%, Agree 27%, Disagree 27%, Strongly Disagree 11% (925 responses).
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