During the 2005-06 school year, we collected student perception data using an online survey that based upon what was, at the time, the most current research regarding the attributes of effective schools and the ingredients of a healthy and effective learning community. The survey was designed for respondents from Grades 5 to 12 and we drew a random sample of students from each school to complete the survey (for a total respondent pool of approximately 700). While the 2005-06 data collection process was effective and survey instrument provided us with useful information, repeating the process in exactly the same way this year would have been rather cumbersome given initiatives currently underway in the Division. As was presented to the Board at its April 13, 2008 meeting, we are using an online survey called What Did You Do in School Today? (previously called Tell Them From Me) to monitor high school students’ perceptions as part of our Collegiate Renewal initiative. As has been highlighted in a Board file earlier this year, the items that are part of the What Did You Do in School Today? (WDYDIST) survey are also grounded in recent research and designed to provide students with a voice in terms of sharing their perceptions about the quality of the learning climate in their schools as well as the extent to which their learning is engaging and relevant.
Given that all collegiate students will have completed WDYDIST at least once this year and that its items address measures that are similar to those of the previous survey, we decided to use the results from this survey to represent collegiate students’ perceptions rather than to ask them to complete a second survey. Further, since all students (both elementary and secondary) completed the same survey in 2005-06, we used WDYDIST with the elementary school students (Grades 5-8) as well in order to present the results from their survey in a similar context.
This report contains results from the elementary school students’ survey – the results from the collegiate students’ survey will be provided as part of the Collegiate Renewal year-end report. Aggregate findings from the survey are provided, along with disaggregated findings where appropriate (a series of detailed graphic depictions of the results disaggregated by grade from selected WDYDIST indicators are provided in Appendix A). In addition, general themes that emerged from students’ responses to the open-ended question as well as excerpts from students’ responses to the open-ended question are interspersed throughout the report as appropriate.