SDU46

5Essentials Survey 

Available to teachers, parents, and students from Jan. 30 to March 29, 2024

If you would like to share your thoughts to help guide school improvement, you should participate in the annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey. 

Teachers, parents, guardians, and 4th through 12th grade students across Illinois are encouraged to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey to share their thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness and help guide school improvement.

Survey Website: https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ NOW OPEN!

Deadline: Friday, March 29, 2024

The 5Essentials Survey will be administered online on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The research-based survey identifies five indicators that can lead to important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. Research has shown that schools strong on these indicators are 10 times more likely to improve student learning. The five indicators are:

• Effective Leaders: The principal works with teachers to implement a clear and strategic vision for school success.
• Collaborative Teachers: The staff is committed to the school, receives strong professional development, and works together to improve the school.
• Involved Families: The entire school staff builds strong relationships with families and communities to support learning.
• Supportive Environment: The school is safe and orderly. Teachers have high expectations of students and support students to realize their goals. Classmates also support one another.
• Ambitious Instruction: Classes are academically demanding and engage students by emphasizing the application of knowledge.

Parent Survey
All U-46 parents are encouraged to take this survey - whether your child is in an early childhood program, elementary school, or middle school. If parents have more than one child at a school, they can complete one survey for each child. Parents with children enrolled in multiple schools may take the survey for each school. It takes about 10 minutes to complete a parent survey, and it is completely confidential - your answers will not be tied to you or your student. 

The state will only generate the parent survey results if at least 20 percent of parents at a school respond to the survey. If the parent participation requirement is met, this data will be made available to principals.You can find out if your school has met the parent participation requirement here! 

To take the parent survey, please visit info.u-46.org/5EssentialsParent before March 29, 2024.

Student Survey – for 4th through 12th grade
 Illinois is only allowing 4th through 12th graders to take the survey. Students will be given time to take the survey at school.

Teacher Survey
All U-46 teachers will be asked to take the survey. The State Board of Education only administers the survey to certified teachers whose primary responsibility involves teaching students for the majority of the school day and year.

The identities of those taking the survey will be kept completely confidential, and survey responses will not be linked to any individual. More information can be found online at www.isbe.net/Pages/5Essentials-Survey.aspx.