Survey Says....
Several weeks ago, the school district surveyed students, families, and staff members to obtain feedback on the distance learning experience from this past spring. Results of the surveys were recently made available to principals. Following is a summary of the feedback received from families.
Just over 6,400 MMSD families responded to the survey. Of this total, 59% were White, 19% Latinx, 8% Black, 8% Multi-Racial, and 7% Asian. From an economic perspective, 27% of respondents qualified for the free and reduced food program.
Just over half of families (51%) indicated that they were either extremely or somewhat satisfied with the online learning experience for their children, while 33% viewed the experience as either somewhat or extremely dissatisfying. The respondent profile and general trends in the data from the 234 family respondents attached to Hamilton followed the same district-wide trends. An analysis of these results suggest that there are a few key drivers behind what makes online learning a positive experience for families:
- Clear understanding of expectations for students and family members, while preserving flexibility.
- Accessible and user-friendly systems for accessing resources and monitoring student progress.
- Frequent communication with teachers and staff, with support for both students and family members in navigating virtual learning.
Implications for the Future
As we begin the new school year at Hamilton in September, we will strive to create an improved distance learning environment for all students and families. We learned a lot this past spring in what was for most teachers, a new way of teaching students. We will use what we learned and make improvements, incorporating aspects such as more face-to-face instruction, opportunities for parents to learn about how to support their children in an online learning environment, and improving our communication with families. In addition, while schedules are yet to be finalized, please anticipate that your child will have a larger time commitment for distance learning when we return in September.
