2015 Robertson County Schools Parent Survey Results (pre-K -5th grade)

Facilitated by a cooperative effort of the Robertson County Schools and Robertson Education Initiative (REdI) of the Chamber of Commerce

2014 Parent Action Plan

1. Bus Stress

2. Websites

3. Communication

2014 Parent Action Plan1. BUS STRESS

• Students were staying at school 1 ½ hours after dismissal waiting on buses • Parents had significant concerns about how often buses were late or

cancelled

IMPROVEMENT• The system requested 5 more buses to help alleviate the transportation

backup and received 2• Students are still waiting up to an hour after school for a bus to pick them

up to take them home Need to identify which schools and how many students?

• The system hired extra drivers for each cluster so when a driver called in sick, they have a backup driver available

• This year’s survey had very few comments about the buses

2014 Parent Action Plan2. WEBSITE

• 73% of parents rarely access the school websites, did not know they existed or would use them if they were updated

• 49% said they did not b/c the information is not updated

IMPROVEMENT• A project team was put in place to determine the website needs for

the school system• The team determined that an up to date web presence would not only

be a resource to our current parents/students/teachers but could also be a strong marketing tool for our communities and schools

• Negotiations are being finalized now with hopes to open the sites at the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year

2014 Parent Action Plan3. COMMUNICATION

• Communication methods preferred by parents were mainly electronic unless there was a behavior issue which a phone call was preferred

• More communications and information from the schools was requested

IMPROVEMENT• Our schools already have a policy in place regarding calling parents in

necessary situations; response from teachers parents is rated high.• The Website Project in the action plan will assist with the other requests:

• Has teacher web pages where they can post their plans, homework and any help• Has a school newsletter feature allowing the school to send out regular

correspondence• Is very easy to manage so anyone at the school can keep it updated, not just one

“webmaster”

Survey Process• Open for 5 weeks• Method of Marketing/PR• School calls• Announced at Principals meeting prior to start• Letter out to all principals prior to survey start• Email blast out to Chamber Members• Link to survey on School and Chamber website• Posted on REdI Facebook Page• Emailed out to 2000+ on REdI Newsletter

Participation• 2015 : 1,995 or 36% (addition of incentive) • 2013: 1,567 or 28% • 2011: 1,459 or 26%

SCHOOL 2013 2015 # StudentsResponded/

School

Heritage Elementary 163 348 496 70%Cheatham Park Elementary 149 305 459 66%Westside Elementary 335 318 558 57%Jo Byrns Elementary 33 269 492 55%Greenbrier Elementary 257 307 758 41%Coopertown Elementary 48 143 378 38%Krisle Elementary 163 162 529 31%Robert Woodall Elementary 130 63 379 17%Coopertown Middle 67 22 192 11%East Robertson Elementary 66 34 565 6%Bransford 30 15 339 4%Watauga Elementary 107 9 376 2%

1548 1995 5521 36%

Data under 10% is not statistically significant

The Great Stuff• 88% of all English speaking parents rated their overall satisfaction

with their child’s educational experience as MOSTLY or VERY Satisfied; 94% from Hispanic families

• 89% are mostly or very satisfied with safety of their children up from 84% two years ago

• 90% believe there are no serious student behavior/discipline problems at the schools [90% 2013; 89% 2011]

• Teacher Communication: 83% are mostly or very satisfied with communication with teachers and teachers rated 92% on their responsiveness to parental concerns

• Principals rated 83% good or excellent on responsiveness to parent concerns and School Office Staff was rated 89% for the same.

• 80% of the parents rated the School Board’s responsiveness to their concerns as Good or Excellent up from 72% last year.

The Great Stuff• 95% feel that their school is neat, clean and in good repair

• 12% do not have internet access down from 16% in 2013 and 18% in 2011

• 28% who replied to the Hispanic version did not have access to the internet down from 37% in 2013

• 84% of parents feel their students need at least weekly access to computers

• 94% of Hispanic families participated in Parent/Teacher Conferences [72% English speaking]

• 20% are not satisfied with the school nutrition program down from 45% in 2013

Internet Access

We need to change the options next year

because many parents (especially the Hispanic

community) wrote in that they have internet

access only via their cell phones.

Technology

Needs Improvement• Only 65% of parents think the special needs of their children

are being met. i.e. accelerated course work, remedial classes, tutoring.

• 44% of all parents rate Advanced Academic programs at their school as fair or poor

• 61% of parents rarely access the school websites, did not know they existed or would use them if they were updated

• 39% of Hispanic parents were not aware we had websites• 35% of the parents with special needs children say their needs

are not being met up from 27% in 2013• Biggest issue mentioned regarding behavior is bullying • 35% feel our school system is Fair to Poor compared to private

schools

2015 Parent Action Plan• ADVANCED OPTIONS: 44% of all parents rate Advanced

Academic programs as fair to poor

• SPECIAL NEEDS: 35% of parents with special needs children say their needs are not being met (this is up from 27% in 2013)

• PRIVATE SCHOOLS: 35% of parents feel our school system is fair to poor compared to private schools

Special Thanks• Kelly Miller at Highland Crest volunteered her team and 5 weeks

of time to input these surveys for free!

• The time from the administration and principals to promote the involvement in the survey to the parents

• Congratulations to White House Heritage Elementary School for having the highest parent participation and winning $1000 for their school!