School & District Management

Urban Education

May 23, 2001 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Polling Parents: Hoping to learn what’s on the minds of New York City parents, Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy sent surveys to the homes of 125,000 school children this month.

The two-page survey queries the parents on their satisfaction with their children’s principals, how well they’re treated when they visit schools, whether they attend parent-teacher meetings, and other topics.

Parents are asked to respond to 35 questions by filling in bubbles next to the appropriate responses. The questions are printed in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Russian, and Haitian-Creole.

“As the ultimate consumers of public education, the parents of our 1.1 million school children are in a position to evaluate how and what their children learn,” Mr. Levy said in a statement. “I hope the parents will take this opportunity to tell me from their perspective what works and what doesn’t work in our schools.”

The survey is the most extensive citywide poll of parents ever undertaken by the nation’s largest school system, said Margie Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the district.

Parents were asked to return the surveys in stamped, self-addressed envelopes by May 18.

A final report on the results is slated to be presented to the board of education in mid-July.

Most of the questions ask parents to answer on a five-point scale ranging from “agree” to “disagree.”

For example, the board will find out if parents think their children’s principals do “a good job” running their schools, and whether school, district, and board offices return phone calls “in a timely manner.”

The survey also seeks “yes” or “no” answers about whether parents have met with their children’s teachers, if they get report cards in the languages they speak, and whether they know about school activities.

In addition, the parents asked for their opinions on academic issues, such as what purpose homework should serve (“learn new material” and “keep children busy” are two possible answers), and the ideal length of time children should spend on homework daily. The possible answers range from none to more than two hours.

The city school board contracted for $605,000 with KPMG Consulting Inc. of McLean, Va., to develop, distribute, and analyze the surveys.

The results will be used to raise parent involvement, evaluate administrators, and improve communication.

“I’m hopeful the survey will go a long way to make the board more accountable to parents and to find effective ways to involve parents in education,” Mr. Levy said.

—Robert C. Johnston

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the May 23, 2001 edition of Education Week

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Boosting Student and Staff Mental Health: What Schools Can Do
Join this free virtual event based on recent reporting on student and staff mental health challenges and how schools have responded.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
Practical Methods for Integrating Computer Science into Core Curriculum
Dive into insights on integrating computer science into core curricula with expert tips and practical strategies to empower students at every grade level.
Content provided by Learning.com

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Rising Tensions From Israel-Hamas War Are Seeping Into Schools
As effects of the war reverberate in school communities, schools have federal responsibilities to create discrimination-free environments.
5 min read
People gather in Pliny Park in Brattleboro, Vt., for a vigil, Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, for the three Palestinian-American students who were shot while walking near the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vt., Saturday, Nov. 25. The three students were being treated at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and one faces a long recovery because of a spinal injury, a family member said.
People gather in Pliny Park in Brattleboro, Vt., for a vigil, Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, for the three Palestinian-American students who were shot while walking near the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vt., Saturday, Nov. 25. Tensions over the Israel-Hamas war are playing out in schools and colleges across the country, including some K-12 schools.
Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP
School & District Management The Missed Opportunity for Public Schools and Climate Change
More cities are creating climate action plans, but schools are often left out of the equation.
4 min read
Global warming illustration, environment pollution, global warming heating impact concept. Change climate concept.
Collage by Gina Tomko/Education Week and iStock/Getty Images Plus
School & District Management 13 States Bar School Board Members From Getting Paid. Here's Where It's Allowed (Map)
There are more calls to increase school board members' pay, or to allow them to be paid at all.
Two professional adults, with a money symbol.
sankai/iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion Bad Sleep Is a Problem for Principals. Here’s What to Do About It
Our new study highlights the connection between stress and sleep among school leaders, write three researchers.
Eleanor Su-Keene, David E. DeMatthews & Alex Keene
5 min read
Stylized illustration of an alarm clock over a background which is split in half, with one half being nighttime and one half being daytime.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva