Information from Seattle Public Schools

In an effort to ensure that Seattle Public Schools is doing all it can to support students’ academic success, the district is inviting SPS students and their families to complete a climate survey regarding the learning environment at their school.

Each spring, SPS conducts a climate survey of families, students and staff at all elementary, middle and high schools, asking questions regarding student engagement, academic rigor, discipline and safety, and family involvement. Results are reported through our annual school reports, found here: http://bit.ly/school_reports.

The family survey will be administered starting May 21 via the district's automated SchoolMessenger system. This allows families to provide feedback by touch-tone phone response, or – if there is no response by phone – through a unique link to an online web survey sent by email.

The family survey will be offered in eight languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Somali, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Amharic and Tigrigna.

Phone calls will occur between 7 and 7:30 p.m. on the following dates:

May 21, May 28, and June 4: Elementary School families with children in grades K-5, including K-8 schools
May 22, May 29, and June 5: Middle School families with children in grades 6-8, including K-8 schools
May 23, May 30 and June 6: High School families with children in grades 9-12

It’s important to note that some families may receive more than one phone call. For example, if a family has one child in high school and another child in middle school, they will receive two separate calls. Families who don’t respond by phone will receive a follow-up email with a link to an online survey.

A third and final round of phone calls/emails will be made June 4-6. The email survey will close on June 14.

Families can also take the survey in person at the SPS Family Symposium, “Building Bridges for Summer Learning,” Saturday, May 18 at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave. The symposium, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., includes a resource fair with community resource booths and activities for children ages 4 and up.

If you have questions about the family surveys, please contact research@seattleschools.org. For more information about the Family Symposium, call Bernardo Ruiz at (206) 252-0693.