A positive school climate helps people feel socially, emotionally and physically safe in schools. The Bethlehem Central School District will be conducting a School Climate Survey for students, staff and parents from Dec. 6-20, 2018.
Parent Survey: https://www.
For students, the online survey will be administered to grades 5-12 on Thursday, December 13, during the school day. This anonymous survey will be used to measure school climate perceptions within our schools on topics such as safety, teaching and learning, relationships, and the environment. It is voluntary and only aggregate information, not individual answers, will be shared with staff and used to inform efforts to improve the school climate. The data will also be used as a baseline so that the district has a way to measure its response to school climate issues as part of a five-year Strategic Plan.
The student survey is expected to take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey being used was created by the U.S. Department of Education in 2016 as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It has been used in other school districts as part of a nationwide school climate pilot project under ESSA. The BC survey, however, will only be used to guide district-level decision making. The data will not be shared with state or federal agencies.
Included in the survey are four demographic questions, including grade, gender, race, and ethnicity. Demographic data helps the district better understand the results and allows us to look more closely at perceptions of school climate from different students’ perspectives. The district will also survey parents and staff with similar versions of the survey that will be made available beginning Thursday, Dec. 6. These data will be examined along with the student results to assess school climate within the district.
Our desire is to keep you informed and involved in your child’s education. If you have questions about the upcoming School Climate Survey or would like to view a copy of the student survey, please contact your child’s principal.
Links to the staff and parent surveys will be emailed beginning December 6. Parents or staff who wish to complete the survey on paper can contact their school or building’s main office.