NCLB Survey

[DeepBlueEclipse]

Hi all,
I am conducting a brief survey related to teachers' thoughts on various aspects of No Child Left Behind. I will be compiling the responses and analyzing the data to determine widespread professional opinion and possible avenues of reform. Please respond to each question (there are 10) with at least one sentence. Your responses will be anonymous, but I do need to your location (city, state) and initials. Thank you so much!!!

NCLB Survey

Questions for teachers and parents:

1) Generally speaking, do you think NCLB has improved our students’ education? Have there been some positive changes? Negative changes?

2) How has the new HQT requirements affected you or your school? Do you think they really make teachers more accountable and better prepared?

3) What are your thoughts on district and statewide assessments? Do they accurately portray where your students are academically (and if SPED teacher) and/or in terms of their IEP goals?

4) How do you feel about scientifically-based and evidence-based instruction? Will this help our students?

5) Is it realistic for all students to be proficient in all areas by
2012? Why or why not?

6) Do you think AYP, as a regulation of NCLB, is beneficial or
detrimental to schools? Is this a good way to hold schools accountable for student learning?

7) In terms of funding, has your school received the money it should have under NCLB? Should funding be tied to student performance? Or are there other factors to consider?

8) What are your thoughts on school choice? Is it good for our students?

9) If you were president, would you change NCLB? If so, how?

10) How do you feel about inclusion? What has your school done to include all students in general education classes? Does it work in your school?

[Miss T]

1) Generally speaking, do you think NCLB has improved our students’ education? Have there been some positive changes? Negative changes?
Personally, no. A lot of teachers at my school are forced to push students ahead when another year in the same grade would really benefit the student. In other cases, they simply haven't been in school enough or simply have refused to complete the work. Yet they are still pushed on to another grade....???

2) How has the new HQT requirements affected you or your school? Do you think they really make teachers more accountable and better prepared?
I'm always thinking about how my students' work will be reflected upon me. It's something I worry about constantly especially in an alternative ed. setting. I feel pressure no matter what.

3) What are your thoughts on district and statewide assessments? Do they accurately portray where your students are academically (and if SPED teacher) and/or in terms of their IEP goals?
Statewide assessments, in my experience, do little for the individual learner. In college, I learned about all the different intelligences and learning styles, and I try to teach to this idea. However, the state only measures students in so many ways, and often, it is to the downfall of the students. I understand the need for uniformity, because unfortunately there are teachers out there who don't teach waht they need to, but for those of us that do, we'd like to be able to give our students the option to take a test from someone they're used to.

4) How do you feel about scientifically-based and evidence-based instruction? Will this help our students?
I'm honestly not sure what this is, but if it's instruction based on data, it should ultimately benefit the kids...right?

5) Is it realistic for all students to be proficient in all areas by
2012? Why or why not?
I don't think so. There are too many flaws in the system to be that effective that soon.

6) Do you think AYP, as a regulation of NCLB, is beneficial or
detrimental to schools? Is this a good way to hold schools accountable for student learning?
AYP is totally beneficial. I had 6 kids in an AYP classroom last year and they all either passed Spanish or matriculated in the high school. The structure is incredible, and we got so much word done. It was really to the benefit of these particular students!

7) In terms of funding, has your school received the money it should have under NCLB? Should funding be tied to student performance? Or are there other factors to consider?
I honestly don't know about the funding for my school, but it may be because I'm only in my second year.

8) What are your thoughts on school choice? Is it good for our students?
Sorry, choice about...?

9) If you were president, would you change NCLB? If so, how?
I understand the rewards system, rewarding the schools who are doing well, but the money needs to go to fund the schools that need it: books, resources, teachers. Otherwise, it's just a vicious circle that will never get better!

10) How do you feel about inclusion? What has your school done to include all students in general education classes? Does it work in your school?
It depends on the student and the help in the room. Not every student is built for inclusion. Some will benefit more by being in a smaller room. It is also important to not take away educational opportunities for other students as well

[teacher5]

) Generally speaking, do you think NCLB has improved our students’ education? Have there been some positive changes? Negative changes?
Yes, there have been SOME positive changes. We have money for TAs and aides and before and after school tutoring. We are accelerating students who can handle it, but we are frustrating students with learning disabilities or come in with emotional problems. On the negative side, we no longer have time to explore a topic in depth because we are prepping for the test. On the other side, we have made students into really good test takers. Whether we like it or not, students need to take tests in order to be promoted and eventually go to college.

2) How has the new HQT requirements affected you or your school? Do you think they really make teachers more accountable and better prepared?
Most of the during the day teacher pull out workshops have been useful. But when there are too many schedule in a short time, it interrupts the flow of the mandated curriculum. A sub can only do so much! The after school prof. dev. workshops tend to be a waste of time for experienced teachers and are practical with teachers who have less than 5 years experience. From 4-6 is a black hole time of the day for teachers.

3) What are your thoughts on district and statewide assessments? Do they accurately portray where your students are academically (and if SPED teacher) and/or in terms of their IEP goals?
Our district assessments, only in math at the elem. level at this time, are a good reflection of the program. They were made by teachers who taught the program and who were willing to edit and revise these tests from teacher feedback. We do so much test prep and they have pushed down so much of the upper grade curriculum into the lower grades that better than 95% of our kids meet or exceed the state standard. The kids with IEPs still struggle even with their accommodations (mods).
4) How do you feel about scientifically-based and evidence-based instruction? Will this help our students?
I am not sure what you mean by these terms. If evidence based means diagnosing areas of weakness and guiding instruction to improve those areas, I am for it.
5) Is it realistic for all students to be proficient in all areas by
2012? Why or why not?
It is not realistic for all students to be profcient in all areas by 2012. It will never be realistic to say all be proficient in all areas by any year. It is human nature that certain inidividuals are stronger in certain areas than others. Also, you need to take into account that there is a range of age when a person is cognitively and developmentally ready to process information and apply it effectively.

6) Do you think AYP, as a regulation of NCLB, is beneficial or
detrimental to schools? Is this a good way to hold schools accountable for student learning? I am not familiar with AYP. What does it stand for?

7) In terms of funding, has your school received the money it should have under NCLB? Should funding be tied to student performance? Or are there other factors to consider?
I definitely think funding has to be tied to the socioeconomic needs of a community. It is a fact the more affluent a community, the better the quality of education, and the better the student. In defense of the affluent, I don't think you diminish the funding you give them because they have learned to use it to achieve better than desirable results.

8) What are your thoughts on school choice? Is it good for our students?
Unless you can prove the school is an unsafe environment because of building condition or violence or something else; there should not be a choice. Public education does work, has worked, and will continue to work. We don't need to put it in the hands of private businesses.
9) If you were president, would you change NCLB? If so, how?
If I were president I would establish a different set of guidelines for students with IEPs or 504 Plans. I believe they should be instructed at the level at which they can learn and a pace at which they can abosrb. I would set up accelerated programs, especially in science and math for those who qualify. I would set up programs for those who don't qualify for Spec. Ed., but still need support and could achieve at grade level and at a normal pace of instruction. I would set up alternative career education programs where kids could learn a trade. The plumber just visited my home and to walk through the door and shake my hand cost $95 plus the $80 in parts and labor. He was here for 45 minutes. Some people are better with a hands on trade. Let's help them get there.
10) How do you feel about inclusion? What has your school done to include all students in general education classes? Does it work in your school? I don't think inclusion is effective. Placing a student in a reg ed. class and forcing him/her to meet the same expectations of the reg ed student, makes no sense to me. Telling me to find one or two things within the lesson this kid can learn and water it down, is not education.

Good luck!