Illinois 5Essentials Survey open

District 88 is joining the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the fourth statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions, referred to as the Illinois 5Essentials Survey.

The survey provides a unique opportunity for teachers, students and parents to have a voice in improving their schools. Through March 11, teachers, students and parents are able to take a 20-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. This survey will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation.

  • Teachers will receive details about how to take the survey through their e-mail.
  • Students will receive details about how to take the survey through Addison Trail or Willowbrook.
  • Parents can take the survey online at https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school’s organizational culture in an individualized report that measures five “essentials” critical for school success. Those are:

  • Effective Leaders
  • Collaborative Teachers
  • Involved Families
  • Supportive Environment
  • Ambitious Instruction

Twenty years of University of Chicago research 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 to teachers and students again this year to continue tracking and informing progress. Survey results will be reported on the 2016 State School Report Card, and the full 5Essentials Reports also will be released in the fall. An optional parent survey is again available as a supplement to the 5Essentials Survey for teachers and students, and results from the parent survey will be included only in the individual school 5Essentials Report.

For more information about the survey, go to https://illinois.5-essentials.org.