Illinois 5Essentials Survey now open

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will again administer the Illinois 5Essentials Survey this spring.

The survey is a statewide opportunity for students in sixth through twelfth grades, faculty and parents/guardians to weigh in on questions related to leadership, collaboration, family involvement, instruction and the school environment. ISBE joined UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute to provide this 20-minute online survey to help the state’s nearly 4,000 schools better identify their strengths and areas that need improvement.

At least 50 percent of students and teachers (and 30 percent of parents/guardians) at each school must fill out the survey for ISBE to have enough data to generate a school-level report. Responses will be kept confidential and will not be linked to any individual. The survey is being conducted through April 25 at https://illinois.5-essentials.org.

The survey provides a comprehensive assessment of school organizational culture with reports to help focus school improvement in the following five areas or “Essentials.”

• Effective leaders
• Collaborative teachers
• Involved families
• Supportive environment
• Ambitious instruction

The 5Essentials survey generates data to help schools target resources and make decisions to accelerate learning and test-score gains. The survey also demonstrates teachers and students can play a crucial role in school reform.

Results of the survey will be sent to schools and districts in June and will be included in each school’s State Report Card, released by ISBE at the end of October. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or 5essentials@uchicago.edu.