DCPS Trendency Survey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I were just talking about our challenges with DL recently, and how it's frustrating that there are no good ways to convey our (constructive!) feedback to help make it better.

That's something a well-constructed survey could do -- not just see how families feel about return to in-person, but also explore ways to improve DL across the district so that if we must or choose to continue DL, it can be more effective. But they don't actually care about our experience, even though it's happening in our homes and we are directly involved in a way that parents NEVER are with in-person school. That seems relevant, but DCPS doesn't care.

There's also no nuance to the Trendency survey, even with the sliders to select preference. They are pushing you to say you want in-person or you don't, you support safety measures or you don't. It makes no sense. The vast majority of families want in-person, but have different feelings about when or if it can be made safe this year. But notice they don't ask THAT question because it would be too revealing (i.e. show that people desperately want in person but largely don't think DCPS can make it sufficiently safe). And regarding the safety measures questions -- is there anyone who is going to answer "Nah, I don't think safety measures like PPE and hot running water matter"? Of course people want the safety measures. The problem is that DCPS is too inept to do something as simple as making sure every elementary school in the city has functioning plumbing. The plumbing issue shouldn't even be a question, it's only a "safety measure" because so many schools in the system have been without functioning bathrooms or adequate supply of soap FOR YEARS.

Have you tried speaking to your principal? I know a number of us have done so at our school and we've seen changes as a result -- changes to the specials schedule, reduced whole group class time, increased small group time, less screen time overall, etc.

Here’s the thing. I don’t wany the DL schedule to be decided by the squeaky wheel parents who bug the principal. I want the educational professionals to figure out some best practices because, you know, they are the experts.

Agreed - but sometimes that is what the teachers want and they need some squeaky wheels to get heard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent them a very snippy email and got an extremely polite reply back so I'm cutting them some slack here.

here's what they said to me:

"Sorry for the delay in response.   I wanted to explain a bit more about this new type of survey we are trying out. 

First- your contact information (email) is linked to your child/children from enrollment data (including school data) so we did not need to ask about school information.  I hope that makes sense.  

Second, this survey is a new public opinion poll we are trying out; it’s a way for us to release multiple questions to a panel of parents over the next few months.  Through the regular touchpoints (we will send out more questions every week or so) we can gauge shifts in points of view and see the exact level of support for an issue or idea.  This poll/survey is an opportunity  to get a regular pulse check on how our families are feeling around how things are going and their perception of DCPS.  Further, we hope to use the data to gauge interest around in person learning, in person virtual classrooms (CARE) and virtual-only.   

We hope to learn more about what is working well as well as how we need to adjust our planning based on parent’s opinions and feedback.  I do hope you’ll consider participating moving forward. 

Again, thanks and take care.

I just got asked for what school oddly enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sent them a very snippy email and got an extremely polite reply back so I'm cutting them some slack here.

here's what they said to me:

"Sorry for the delay in response.   I wanted to explain a bit more about this new type of survey we are trying out. 

First- your contact information (email) is linked to your child/children from enrollment data (including school data) so we did not need to ask about school information.  I hope that makes sense.  

Second, this survey is a new public opinion poll we are trying out; it’s a way for us to release multiple questions to a panel of parents over the next few months.  Through the regular touchpoints (we will send out more questions every week or so) we can gauge shifts in points of view and see the exact level of support for an issue or idea.  This poll/survey is an opportunity  to get a regular pulse check on how our families are feeling around how things are going and their perception of DCPS.  Further, we hope to use the data to gauge interest around in person learning, in person virtual classrooms (CARE) and virtual-only.   

We hope to learn more about what is working well as well as how we need to adjust our planning based on parent’s opinions and feedback.  I do hope you’ll consider participating moving forward. 

Again, thanks and take care.

I just got asked for what school oddly enough.

I believe it was Wednesday that I was also asked what schools my kids attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I were just talking about our challenges with DL recently, and how it's frustrating that there are no good ways to convey our (constructive!) feedback to help make it better.

That's something a well-constructed survey could do -- not just see how families feel about return to in-person, but also explore ways to improve DL across the district so that if we must or choose to continue DL, it can be more effective. But they don't actually care about our experience, even though it's happening in our homes and we are directly involved in a way that parents NEVER are with in-person school. That seems relevant, but DCPS doesn't care.

There's also no nuance to the Trendency survey, even with the sliders to select preference. They are pushing you to say you want in-person or you don't, you support safety measures or you don't. It makes no sense. The vast majority of families want in-person, but have different feelings about when or if it can be made safe this year. But notice they don't ask THAT question because it would be too revealing (i.e. show that people desperately want in person but largely don't think DCPS can make it sufficiently safe). And regarding the safety measures questions -- is there anyone who is going to answer "Nah, I don't think safety measures like PPE and hot running water matter"? Of course people want the safety measures. The problem is that DCPS is too inept to do something as simple as making sure every elementary school in the city has functioning plumbing. The plumbing issue shouldn't even be a question, it's only a "safety measure" because so many schools in the system have been without functioning bathrooms or adequate supply of soap FOR YEARS.

Have you tried speaking to your principal? I know a number of us have done so at our school and we've seen changes as a result -- changes to the specials schedule, reduced whole group class time, increased small group time, less screen time overall, etc.

Here’s the thing. I don’t wany the DL schedule to be decided by the squeaky wheel parents who bug the principal. I want the educational professionals to figure out some best practices because, you know, they are the experts.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Another poorly designed Trendency survey about Term 3 and 4 reopening. I have students in multiple schools and there wasn't even the option of providing multiple answers for multiple schools. And of course, no option for clarifying that the reason both my students are virtual is that their DCPS schools have offered them no option of attending in person, but the question is loaded the other way. So Frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who has created surveys before knows that this is a poorly designed. It is clear they are looking to validate their POV.