Impact Kentucky survey an easier way for teachers to weigh in

• Impact Kentucky is about two-thirds shorter than its predecessor, with 77 questions compared to 180.
• The survey – developed by a steering committee that includes educators – will continue to provide schools with data they can use for improvement.

By Mike Marsee
mike.marsee@education.ky.gov

Significant school improvement could be only a few minutes away.

Starting today, it will be easier than ever for teachers to make their voices heard about working conditions in their schools through the Impact Kentucky survey.

The survey has been designed to be simpler for educators to complete than past working conditions surveys. It should take only about 15 minutes to take the survey, which opened Jan. 13 to certified staff members in schools across Kentucky.

The survey administered by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Panorama Education will provide schools with critical data that guides implementation of policies and practices that maximize teacher effectiveness.

Impact Kentucky replaces the TELL Kentucky survey, which was administered by KDE and the New Teacher Center four times between 2011 and 2017. Because of the change to a new partner, KDE was able to shorten the survey by about two-thirds.

“One of the things we heard from the steering committee was that the survey was too long,” said Cathy White, a program consultant in the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness. “We reviewed the previous set of constructs and the new constructs and questions that Panorama had available, and we had the opportunity to shorten the survey so it takes less time.”

The TELL survey consisted of 180 questions, but Impact Kentucky reduced that number by more than half.

“It will still provide the schools with actionable data for school improvement,” White said.

The survey, which is open through Feb. 21, also has been updated to be more relevant for educators. A steering committee of superintendents, teachers, principals and education groups from across the state oversaw the survey planning and developed the 77-question survey and guidelines for its administration.

Rob Akers, a KDE associate commissioner in the Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, said the items that are being assessed came directly from recommendations made by teachers and principals.

“This survey has been tailored to address the themes and concerns raised by the steering committee and contains data that is highly actionable at the school level,” Akers said.

Panorama Education, whose mission revolves around helping educators use data to improve student outcomes, will collect and analyze the survey results, which are expected to be available to schools in March.

Panorama will then offer a series of workshops co-hosted by KDE that will focus on data inquiry and action planning to help schools focus on how to use the data.