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Attachment B: Survey of Rural SIG School Principals

This confidential survey is part of a study of the implementation of School Improvement Grants 

(SIG) in rural schools using the transformation model. The Regional Educational Laboratory 

(REL) Northwest is conducting this study. REL Northwest is a private nonprofit research and 

technical assistance provider based in Portland, Oregon, that is part of the Institute of Education 

Sciences’ Regional Educational Laboratory program (http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/).

The purpose of this study is to provide educators and policymakers with information about 

how rural schools implemented their SIG and to inform future efforts to turn around schools in 

rural areas. Your responses are very important because, as the principal of a SIG school, you 

have first-hand knowledge about your school’s implementation efforts. We will combine your 

answers with those of other SIG principals to help evaluators understand the implementation of 

the SIG transformation model in rural schools.

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. We request that you respond by [date to come].

Responses to this survey are completely confidential. Because your participation is voluntary, 

there are no repercussions to participating or not participating. By completing this survey you 

are consenting to the inclusion of your survey data in the REL study. No one, other than the 

researchers working on this project from REL Northwest and Policy Studies Associates, will see 

your individual responses, and personal information will be removed from the database before 

analysis. Furthermore, the reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the 

sample and will not associate responses with a specific district, school, or individual. Any 

reported information will always be aggregated across multiple schools. We will not provide 

information that identifies you or your district to anyone outside the study team.

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Caitlin Scott at caitlin.scott@educationnorthwest.org or 

1.800.547.6339 x585.

Thank you for your participation!

Per the policies and procedures required by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part E, 

Section 183, responses to this data collection will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports 

prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a 

specific district or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your district to 

anyone outside the study team, except as required by law. Any willful disclosure of such information for 

nonstatistical purposes, without the informed consent of the respondent, is a class E felony. The survey is 

proprietary and approval by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) does not imply 

endorsement by the Department of Education.
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Background

1. What month did you assume your current position as principal of your school? Please check 

one response in the box below the appropriate month.

Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

2. What year did you assume your current position as principal of your school?

Year you became principal at your school:________________

3. Are you familiar with implementation of the SIG-funded transformation model at your 

school?

a. Yes ....................................................................................(GO to QUESTION 4)

b. No....................................................................................

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are not familiar with implementation of the SIG-funded 

transformation model at your school, we would appreciate it if you would please provide the 

name, title, email address, and phone number of someone whom you believe is familiar with 

SIG implementation, such as:

 The former principal of your school who was involved in the implementation of the SIGfunded transformation model

 A district administrator responsible for school improvement

 A school-level administrator, such as an assistant principal, who was involved in the 

implementation of the SIG-funded transformation model at your school

 A teacher who had responsibilities for assisting in the implementation of the school’s 

SIG-funded transformation model

Name

Title

Email address

Phone number 

(including area 

code)
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Implementation of the Transformation Model

4. To what degree has your school implemented each of the following activities related to the 

SIG transformation model? For each of the following transformation activities, please check 

the first box if your school was not planning to implement that particular transformation 

activity; check the second box if your school is planning and preparing to implement that 

activity but has not yet done so; check the third box if your school has partially 

implemented the activity; or check the fourth box if your school has fully implemented the 

activity. Please check ONE response for each row.

Implementation Stage

Transformation Activity

N/A

(not 

intending to 

implement)

Planning/

developing

(planning and 

preparing to 

implement this 

activity)

Partially

implemented

(actively

implementing this 

activity, but some 

aspects are not yet 

completely

integrated into 

routines)

Fully implemented

(completely

implemented this 

activity, which is 

now a routine part 

of our school)

a. Used teacher evaluation systems 

that account for student growth    

b. Used principal evaluation systems 

that account for student growth    

c. Identified and REWARDED teachers 

who have improved student 

outcomes

   

d. Identified and REWARDED school 

leaders who have improved student 

outcomes

   

e. Identified and REMOVED teachers 

who have NOT improved student 

outcomes

   

f. Identified and REMOVED school 

leaders who have NOT improved 

student outcomes

   

g. Provided staff ongoing, high-quality, 

job-embedded professional 

development

   

h. Implemented strategies to RECRUIT 

high-quality staff    

i. Implemented strategies to RETAIN 

high-quality staff    

j. Used data to identify and implement 

a new instructional program    

k. Promoted the use of student data to 

inform instruction    

l. Increased learning time for students    

m. Provided mechanisms for family 

engagement    

n. Provided mechanisms for community 

engagement    

o. Used operational flexibility (such as 

staffing, calendars/time, and 

budgeting) to improve student 

outcomes

   
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5. Among the transformation activities that are fully implemented in your school, which of the 

following, if any, do you believe were essential to your core efforts to improve your school?

(Check ALL that apply.)

Transformation Activity

Essential to core 

school 

improvement 

efforts

a. Using teacher evaluation systems that account for student 

growth 

b. Using principal evaluation systems that account for student 

growth 

c. Identifying and REWARDING teachers who have improved 

student outcomes 

d. Identifying and REWARDING school leaders who have 

improved student outcomes 

e. Identifying and REMOVING teachers who have NOT 

improved student outcomes 

f. Identifying and REMOVING school leaders who have NOT 

improved student outcomes 

g. Providing staff ongoing, high-quality, job-embedded 

professional development 

h. Implementing strategies to RECRUIT high-quality staff 

i. Implementing strategies to RETAIN high-quality staff 

j. Using data to identify and implement a new instructional 

program 

k. Promoting the use of student data to inform instruction 

l. Increasing learning time for students 

m. Providing mechanisms for family engagement 

n. Providing mechanisms for community engagement 

o. Using operational flexibility (such as staffing, calendars/time, 

and budgeting) to improve student outcomes 

6. In addition to activities associated with the transformation model, has your school 

implemented any other school improvement activities during the SIG funding period (i.e.,

academic years 2010/11 through 2013/14)?

a. Yes .................................................................................... 

b. No..................................................................................... (GO to question 7)

c. Don’t know/can’t remember ........................................ (GO to question 7)

If “yes,” please list any additional school improvement activities your school implemented 

during the SIG funding period.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
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7. Did any of the following factors act as barriers to your school’s capacity to implement a 

particular transformation activity? Please indicate whether insufficient funding, staff 

expertise, staff time, technological capacity/equipment, teacher support, or district 

support/guidance acted as a barrier to your school’s capacity to implement each of the 

following transformation activities. Check all that apply.

Challenge

Transformation Activity

N/A:

No 

challenge

Insufficient 

funding

Insufficient 

staff 

expertise

Insufficient 

staff time

Insufficient 

technological 

capacity/ 

equipment

Insufficient 

teacher 

support

Insufficient 

district 

support/ 

guidance

Don’t 

know

a. Using teacher evaluation 

systems that account for 

student growth

       

b. Using principal evaluation 

systems that account for

student growth

       

c. Identifying and 

REWARDING teachers who 

have improved student 

outcomes

       

d. Identifying and 

REWARDING school 

leaders who have 

improved student 

outcomes

       

e. Identifying and REMOVING

teachers who have NOT 

improved student 

outcomes

       

f. Identifying and REMOVING

school leaders who have 

NOT improved student 

outcomes

       

g. Providing staff ongoing, 

high-quality, jobembedded professional 

development

       

h. Implementing strategies to 

RECRUIT high-quality staff        

i. Implementing strategies to 

RETAIN high-quality staff        

j. Using data to identify and 

implement a new 

instructional program

       

k. Promoting the use of 

student data to inform 

instruction

       

l. Increasing learning time

for students        

m. Providing mechanisms for 

family engagement        

n. Providing mechanisms for 

community engagement        

o. Using operational flexibility 

(such as staffing, 

calendars/ time, and 

budgeting) to improve 

student outcomes

       
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Please specify whether any OTHER factors acted as barriers to your school’s capacity to 

implement each of the following transformation activities.

Transformation Activity Other Factors

a. Using teacher evaluation systems that account for student 

growth

b. Using principal evaluation systems that account for 

student growth

c. Identifying and REWARDING teachers who have 

improved student outcomes

d. Identifying and REWARDING school leaders who have 

improved student outcomes

e. Identifying and REMOVING teachers who have NOT 

improved student outcomes

f. Identifying and REMOVING school leaders who have 

NOT improved student outcomes

g. Providing staff ongoing, high-quality, job-embedded 

professional development

h. Implementing strategies to RECRUIT high-quality staff

i. Implementing strategies to RETAIN high-quality staff

j. Using data to identify and implement a new instructional 

program

k. Promoting the use of student data to inform instruction

l. Increasing learning time for students

m. Providing mechanisms for family engagement

n. Providing mechanisms for community engagement

o. Using operational flexibility (such as staffing, 

calendars/time, and budgeting) to improve student 

outcomes
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Technical Assistance that Supports Implementation of 

Transformation Activities

8. Please indicate the extent to which you agree that the technical assistance your school 

received from your school district on each of the following SIG transformation activities 

was sufficient. If your school district did not provide technical assistance, please select “not 

applicable.” (Check ONE response for each row.)

Transformation Activity

The technical assistance provided by my SCHOOL DISTRICT on 

this topic was sufficient.

Strongly 

disagree Disagree Agree

Strongly 

agree

Not 

applicable

a. Using teacher evaluation systems that account for student 

growth     

b. Using principal evaluation systems that account for 

student growth     

c. Identifying and REWARDING teachers who have 

improved student outcomes     

d. Identifying and REWARDING school leaders who have 

improved student outcomes     

e. Identifying and REMOVING teachers who have NOT 

improved student outcomes     

f. Identifying and REMOVING school leaders who have 

NOT improved student outcomes     

g. Providing staff ongoing, high-quality, job-embedded 

professional development     

h. Implementing strategies to RECRUIT high-quality staff     

i. Implementing strategies to RETAIN high-quality staff     

j. Using data to identify and implement a new instructional 

program     

k. Promoting the use of student data to inform instruction     

l. Increasing learning time for students     

m. Providing mechanisms for family engagement     

n. Providing mechanisms for community engagement     

o. Using operational flexibility (such as staffing, 

calendars/time, and budgeting) to improve student 

outcomes

    
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9. Please indicate the extent to which you agree that the technical assistance your school 

received from your state on each of the following SIG transformation activities was 

sufficient. If your state did not provide technical assistance, please select “not applicable.” 

(Select ONE response for each row.)

Transformation Activity

The technical assistance provided by my STATE 

was sufficient.

Strongly

disagree Disagree Agree

Strongly

agree

Not 

applicable

a. Using teacher evaluation systems that account for student 

growth     

b. Using principal evaluation systems that account for 

student growth     

c. Identifying and REWARDING teachers who have 

improved student outcomes     

d. Identifying and REWARDING school leaders who have 

improved student outcomes     

e. Identifying and REMOVING teachers who have NOT 

improved student outcomes     

f. Identifying and REMOVING school leaders who have 

NOT improved student outcomes     

g. Providing staff ongoing, high-quality, job-embedded 

professional development     

h. Implementing strategies to RECRUIT high-quality staff     

i. .Implementing strategies to RETAIN high-quality staff     

j. Using data to identify and implement a new instructional 

program     

k. Promoting the use of student data to inform instruction     

l. Increasing learning time for students     

m. Providing mechanisms for family engagement     

n. Providing mechanisms for community engagement     

o. Using operational flexibility (such as staffing, 

calendars/time, and budgeting) to improve student 

outcomes

    
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10. Please indicate the extent to which you agree that the technical assistance your school 

received from a university on each of the following SIG transformation activities was 

sufficient. If a university did not provide technical assistance, please select “not applicable.” 

(Select ONE response for each row.)

Transformation Activity

The technical assistance provided by a UNIVERSITY 

was sufficient.

Strongly

disagree Disagree Agree

Strongly

agree

Not 

applicable

a. Using teacher evaluation systems that account for 

student growth     

b. Using principal evaluation systems that account for 

student growth     

c. Identifying and REWARDING teachers who have 

improved student outcomes     

d. Identifying and REWARDING school leaders who have 

improved student outcomes     

e. Identifying and REMOVING teachers who have NOT 

improved student outcomes     

f. Identifying and REMOVING school leaders who have 

NOT improved student outcomes     

g. Providing staff ongoing, high-quality, job-embedded 

professional development     

h. Implementing strategies to RECRUIT high-quality staff     

i. Implementing strategies to RETAIN high-quality staff     

j. Using data to identify and implement a new instructional 

program     

k. Promoting the use of student data to inform instruction     

l. Increasing learning time for students     

m. Providing mechanisms for family engagement     

n. Providing mechanisms for community engagement     

o. Using operational flexibility (such as staffing, 

calendars/time, and budgeting) to improve student 

outcomes

    
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11. Please indicate the extent to which you agree that the technical assistance your school 

received from another provider on each of the following SIG transformation activities was 

sufficient. If another provider did not provide technical assistance, please select “not 

applicable.” (Select ONE response for each row.)

Transformation Activity

The technical assistance provided by ANOTHER 

PROVIDER was sufficient.

Strongl

y 

disagre

e

Disagre

e

Agre

e

Strongly

agree

Not 

applicabl

e

a. Using teacher evaluation systems that account for student growth.

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

b. Using principal evaluation systems that account for student 

growth

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

c. Identifying and REWARDING teachers who have improved 

student outcomes

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

d. Identifying and REWARDING school leaders who have improved 

student outcomes

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

e. Identifying and REMOVING teachers who have NOT improved 

student outcomes

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

f. Identifying and REMOVING school leaders who have NOT 

improved student outcomes

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

g. Providing staff ongoing, high-quality, job-embedded professional 

development

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

h. Implementing strategies to RECRUIT high-quality staff

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

i. Implementing strategies to RETAIN high-quality staff

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

j. Using data to identify and implement a new instructional program

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    
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Transformation Activity (CONT.)

The technical assistance provided by ANOTHER 

PROVIDER was sufficient.

Strongly 

disagree Disagree Agree

Strongly 

agree

Strongly 

disagree

k. Promoting the use of student data to inform instruction

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

_____________________________________________

    

l. Increasing learning time for students

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

m. Providing mechanisms for family engagement

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

n. Providing mechanisms for community engagement

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

o. Using operational flexibility (such as staffing, calendars/time, and 

budgeting) to improve student outcomes

Please specify the technical assistance provider:

______________________________________________

    

Thank you for taking our survey. Your response is very important to us.
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Screen Shots of Online Survey
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