CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE ILLINOIS 5ESSENTIALS SURVEY
District 88 is joining the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the eighth statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions, referred to as the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. The survey provides an opportunity for students, teachers and parents/guardians to have a voice in improving their schools. Through Feb. 14, 2020, students and teachers are encouraged to take a 25-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. The parent survey supplement also is open through Feb. 14, 2020. These surveys will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation.
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. Those are:
Twenty years of research at The University of Chicago in more than 400 schools has shown schools that are strong on at least three of the 5Essentials are 10 times more likely to make substantial gains in improving student reading and math than schools that are 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 correlates with increased teacher retention, student attendance, college enrollment and high school graduation.
District 88 has consistently participated in the statewide 5Essentials Survey and is opting to administer the survey again this year to continue tracking and informing progress. The principals and superintendent will receive their 5Essentials Reports in April 2020, and survey results will be posted on the 5Essentials reporting site in spring 2020 and on the 2020 Illinois Report Card. Results from the optional parent/guardian survey will be included only in the individual school 5Essentials Report, if the required response rate is met.
On behalf of the ISBE, UChicago Impact is providing Illinois 5Essentials to schools statewide. For more information, go to https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois.