This section may be updated with commonly asked questions received throughout the survey window.
SURVEY RESULTS |
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| When will Survey results be provided to schools? Can we get them before the next school year starts? |
Survey results in Student Success will be available sometime after the end of the school year; we are aiming to have reports up near the end of June 2024. Public results will be available when the Iowa School Performance Profiles are updated in the fall of each year. |
| Where can I find results from previous years? | Survey scores for the state and schools are found on the Iowa School Performance Profiles. Click on the Conditions for Learning measure to see more detailed information about the results for the state or by school. |
STUDENT SUCCESS |
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| Where do I find my students’ state student IDs (access codes)? | Written instructions for finding state student IDs can be found in this one-pager, and a demonstration is available in this video. District and building users can access the ID files, classroom users cannot. |
| Why don’t I see anything for the Survey in Student Success, or what should I see when I’m logged in? | Until closer to the Survey window or at the start of the Survey window, you will not see anything in Student Success specific to the Conditions for Learning Survey. About a week before the first day that the Survey is live, you will be able to see the response rate dashboard and completion lists under the Surveys tab. |
| When will I be able to see the response rate dashboard and access completion lists? | This will be available the week before the survey window opens. |
| Is it MTSS_district_user or PANO_district_user? | In the SIS, the users are flagged with MTSS, while in the Portal they are flagged with Pano. They are the same thing. |
| I’m having difficulty getting access to Student Success in the portal. Why? | The most common issues are:
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| Where do I find more information about user setup? |
Quick Start: Access to Student Success and Fastbridge for LEA Users This document includes troubleshooting tips and resources. |
BACKGROUND |
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| What are Conditions for Learning? | Conditions for Learning tell us about the culture and climate of a school. Conditions for Learning include things about safety, student engagement in learning and the overall learning environment. They can help us to understand why students are doing well in school and why students may be struggling. |
| What is the Conditions for Learning Survey? | The Conditions for Learning Survey was designed as part of an index (Iowa Safe and Supportive Schools Index, or IS3 Index) to measure conditions for learning in schools as part of a grant from the Office of Safe and Supportive Schools awarded in 2010. The survey asks students about their experiences in the areas of safety, student engagement and the overall learning environment. |
| How is the Conditions for Learning Survey connected with Iowa’s ESSA Plan? |
Conditions for Learning represents a small part of the school accountability index in Iowa’s ESSA plan. The student survey is valid and reliable for its designed purpose - as one indicator of a school’s culture/climate for optimal learning conditions.
There are two versions of the Survey, one for students in grades 3–5 (which has been adapted and revised to be age appropriate for the lower grades), and one for students in grades 6–12. |
| Why did Iowa decide to include Conditions for Learning in the State ESSA Plan? |
One criticism of No Child Left Behind was that it was a very academic-test focused. With the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Iowa Department of Education (the Department) had an opportunity to take Iowa’s accountability focus beyond test scores to look at school performance more holistically.
ESSA requires states to include at least one measure of school quality or student success in accountability systems, and Conditions for Learning was chosen as one of those measures. The Survey is valid and reliable, and has a long history in our state. |
| Is it fair to measure schools based on student perceptions? Do kids actually care about surveys? | We believe this is the right thing to do. This Survey gives students a voice in school improvement efforts. It’s also actionable information for schools to use to improve the learning environment, which is important. Research shows students thrive academically when they feel safe, actively engaged in their learning, and when they have positive relationships with adults and other students at school. |
| Why am I getting reminder emails? | In order to reach building and district leaders responsible for managing the survey, we are periodically emailing all district and building users, since we have no way to know which ones are the “right” ones. If you are receiving the emails and know you are not responsible for your district’s surveys, just delete the email. If you aren’t sure, ask your colleagues to make sure someone is handling it! |
SURVEY ADMINISTRATION |
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| What if a student isn’t on my roster, or doesn’t have a survey for their current school? |
Rosters are pulled two weeks before the survey window opens. If a student enrolled for the first time within this time, and therefore does not have a survey, they do not need to complete the survey. From a research perspective, it is suggested that surveyed students have sufficient experience in that classroom (6+ weeks) to avoid any bias. Only students with the following enrollment entry codes will be included on school rosters: 1 - Enrolled 2 - Open enrolled 3 - Tuitioned in, parent paid 4 - Tuitioned in, district paid 5 - Whole grade sharing in 10 - Tuitioned in from out of state 15 - Tuitioned in, state paid 19 - Foreign student on visa 60 - Independent charter enrolled 81 - Enrolled in nonpublic school (only applies to nonpublic schools participating in the survey) |
| How should students that are learning 100% online participate? | We encourage schools to administer the survey live to students, even if they are learning remotely, rather than assigning it as homework to complete later. This allows teachers or the survey proctor to assist students in entering their State Student ID, and to answer questions that may arise. |
| Who should participate in the Conditions for Learning Survey? |
All students in grades 3 through 12. We leave the decision to teachers and parents whether a student that has recently entered the United States, or has significant disabilities participates in the survey. |
| How do students take the Survey in Spanish? |
Students should enter their access code on the main survey page. Once they enter, there is a drop down on the top left side of the screen to select Spanish: |
| What is the Survey window? Do all students need to take the Survey on the same day? | Schools can administer the Survey anytime from April 1-30, 2024. All students in the school do not need to complete the Survey on the same day, and students may make up a missed survey administration day any time until the last day of the Survey window. |
| Do students need to take the Survey in one sitting? | Yes, plan for students to take the Survey in one sitting, as answers will not be saved if the student exits the Survey before submitting. The Survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes for older students, and approximately 20-30 minutes for younger students that need the Survey read aloud to them. |
| What counts as a student “participating”? | The survey system does not register that questions were filled out unless the respondent clicks the submit button. They do not need to answer every question, or even any questions, but it is crucial that they hit the button in order for the completion lists to list them as “TRUE” (or as having completed the survey). |
| Are there participation minimums in order for a school to have valid results? |
We encourage schools to aim for as high of participation as possible. As in previous years, at least 50% participation of enrolled students in grades 3-12 is needed for a score. |
| Can a teacher or other adult assist a student who needs accommodations to answer the questions? |
Yes, if that is an accommodation that would typically be provided for the student. Extra assurances regarding the confidentiality of their responses should be made to the student by this adult. The individual reading the survey items should not interpret any of the questions, but can explain words. If a student has significant disabilities, their participation is left to the discretion of teachers and parents. |
| Can a student opt out of the Survey without parent consent? | Yes, a student can choose to not participate in the Survey at any time before or during the Survey administration. |
| Are nonpublic schools required to participate in the Conditions for Learning survey? | No, the Survey is only required for public schools as it is an ESSA indicator. |
| What if some students need to take the Survey on paper? | The Survey is available online only. |
PARENT INVOLVEMENT |
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| Can we post the Parent Letter on our website? |
Yes, but that should not be the only means of dissemination. To ensure that all parents have received the Letter, send via postage and/or email. Parent information must be sent at least two weeks prior to survey administration. |
| Who should parents contact if they have questions or concerns about the Survey? | Parents may contact cfl@iowa.gov at the Iowa Department of Education with questions or concerns. |
TECHNOLOGY |
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| Can any browser be used? | The following browsers are supported by the online survey collection system:
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| Can schools monitor participation in the survey/progress of student participation during survey administration? | Yes, refer to the information provided on the Survey Overview for access and to the webinar slides for a step-by-step to find the response rate dashboard, as well as this video demonstration. |
| Can surveys be administered on iPads and tablets? | Yes, the Survey can be taken on iPads and other tablets. |
| What if the computer crashes or loses power when a student is taking the survey? Can they continue their survey? | Student responses are saved only when the blue submit button is clicked. If the browser a student is using is closed before they were able to submit, those answers were not saved. They should re-enter their ID to begin the survey again. |