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Public School Principal Questionnaire 

Spring 2013

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Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 1

To better understand the differences between the public and private schools, this 

survey asks about policies, practices, and working conditions in your school. It is part 

of a multi-year study that will examine how public and private school conditions change 

over time and throughout the District.

Q1. How long have you been the principal at this school? ( Check one)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Less than 1 year to 2 years..........1

3 to 4 years ..................................2

5 years.........................................3

More than 5 years........................4

Part 1: Admissions and Available Programs

The questions in this section ask about possible requirements for admission and the 

programs your school may offer.

Q2. Does your school have any criteria that are routinely used in admitting students? 

( Check one)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Yes .......................................

1

No.........................................

2

(Go to Question 4)

Q3. Which of the following criteria does your school routinely use in admitting students? 

( Check all that apply)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

a. Interview ........................................................................ 

01

b. Academic performance as measured by a test your 

school or your school system administers..................... 

02

c. Other indicators of academic performance ................... 

03

d. Disciplinary record ......................................................... 

04

e. Extent of special needs ................................................. 

05

f. Essay............................................................................. 

06

g. Neighborhood priorities ................................................. 

07

h. Sibling preferences........................................................ 

08

i. Children of faculty or board members ........................... 

09

j. Other (please specify ______________________) ...... 

10
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 2

Q4. Which of the following programs or facilities are available to students in your school? 

( Check yes or no on each row)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Yes No

Special Instructional Programs

a. Programs with specific instructional approaches 

(e.g., Success for All, Reading Recovery) ............. 

1 2

b. A foreign language program................................... 

1 2

c. Advanced placement (AP) courses (high school 

only) ....................................................................... 

1 2

d. International Baccalaureate (IB) program (high 

school only) ........................................................... 

1 2

e. Instructional programs for non-English speakers... 

1 2

f. Instructional programs for students with learning 

problems................................................................. 

1 2

g. Instructional programs for advanced learners or 

talented/gifted program........................................... 

1 2

h. Music program........................................................ 

1 2

i. Arts program........................................................... 

1 2

Extra Curricular Activities

j. After-school program .............................................. 

1 2

k. Before-school program ........................................... 

1 2

l. Athletics .................................................................. 

1 2

m. Academic clubs ...................................................... 

1 2

n. Performing arts ....................................................... 

1 2

Supports for Struggling Learners

o. Individual tutors ...................................................... 

1 2

School Facilities

p. Nurse ...................................................................... 

1 2

q. Lunches prepared at the school ............................. 

1 2

r. Computer lab .......................................................... 

1 2

s. Library/Media Center.............................................. 

1 2

t. Gym ........................................................................ 

1 2

u. Cafeteria ................................................................. 

1 2

v. Other (please specify ___________________) ..... 

1 2
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 3

Q5. How would you rate your school on each of the following aspects? 

( Check one box on each row)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

Excellent

Very 

Good Adequate Inadequate Deficient

Does not apply 

to this school

School Facilities:

a. Condition of the building(s)............ 

1 2 3 4 5 6

b. The amount of space available for 

activities ......................................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

c. Quality of science labs available ... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

d. Quality of computer facilities 

available......................................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

e. Quality and availability of textbooks 

and other instructional materials.... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

f. Quality of your library..................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

g. Access to computers and other 

educational technology 

(e.g., calculators) ........................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

h. Transportation for students to and 

from school .................................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

i. Accessibility for students with 

disabilities ...................................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

Students and Parents:

j. Student attendance and punctuality 

1 2 3 4 5 6

k. Student preparation in subject areas 

1 2 3 4 5 6

l. Student motivation to learn........ 

1 2 3 4 5 6

m. Student behavior and/or discipline 

1 2 3 4 5 6

n. Parental support for student learning 

1 2 3 4 5 6

Teachers and Instruction:

o. Teacher expectations for how well 

students will learn ...................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

p. Provisions for low-performing 

students ..................................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

q. The amount of instructional time in 

the school day............................ 

1 2 3 4 5 6

r. Instructional skills and abilities of 

teachers ..................................... 

1 2 3 4 5 6

s. Subject area expertise of teachers 

1 2 3 4 5 6

t. Teacher attendance and punctuality 

1 2 3 4 5 6

u. Teaching staff turnover.............. 

1 2 3 4 5 6

v. Teacher compensation .............. 

1 2 3 4 5 6
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 4

Q6. How much emphasis do you place on the following goals and objectives for your teachers? 

( Check one box on each row) (ECLS-K 8th Grade Administrator Survey)

No or

minor 

emphasis

Moderate 

emphasis

Major 

emphasis

a. Assisting all students to achieve high standards ............... 

1 2 3

b. Using curricula aligned with high standards ...................... 

1 2 3

c. Using instructional strategies (e.g., hands-on activities, 

cooperative learning) aligned with high standards............. 

1 2 3

d. Participation in professional development activities .......... 

1 2 3

Part 2: Classroom Instruction and Classroom Testing

This section focuses on the ways classroom instruction is organized at your 

school and how often testing occurs.

Q7. Schools sometimes organize instruction differently for students with different abilities and 

interests. Which of the following does your school do for students?

( Check one) (ECLS-K 8th Grade Administrator Survey)



1 We offer differentiated courses in our core curriculum but students have open access to 

any course provided they have taken the required prerequisite(s).



2 We offer differentiated courses and do differentiated grouping in our core curriculum.



3 We offer a variety of undifferentiated courses in our core curriculum, and students have 

open access to any course provided they have taken the required prerequisite(s).

Q8. For students who have difficulty learning at the same pace as their classmates, what proportion of 

these students are provided the following types of support? 

( Check one box on each row) (Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

All Some Few None

Not 

Offered

a. Rely on teachers to provide 

extra help during regular class 

times........................................... 

1 2 3 4 5

b. Counsel students to enroll in 

other schools .............................. 

1 2 3 4 5

c. Use peers as instructors ............ 

1 2 3 4 5

d. Provide individualized attention 

from an adult other than the

main classroom teacher............. 

1 2 3 4 5

e. Computer-based instruction ....... 

1 2 3 4 5

f. Use differentiated instruction 

techniques ..................................... 

1 2 3 4 5

g. Other (please specify 

_______________________) ....... 

1 2 3 4 5
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 5

Q9. For each grade listed below, please answer the following questions.

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

If your school has a 

THIRD grade, please 

answer (a) and (b):

If your school has an

EIGHTH grade, please 

answer (a) and (b):

If your school has a 

TENTH grade, 

please answer (a) 

and (b):

a. How long is the typical 

full week of school?

hours and

minutes

hours and

minutes

hours and

minutes

b. During a typical full week 

of school, approximately 

how many minutes do 

most students spend on 

these activities at this 

school?

(1) English, reading, or 

language arts

minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

(2) Arithmetic or math minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

(3) Social studies or 

history

minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

(4) Science minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

minutes per 

week

Q10. On average, how often do teachers in your school test the English, reading, or language arts 

skills of their students?

( Check one)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

More than once a week ... 

1

Weekly............................. 

2

Monthly ............................ 

3

Quarterly.......................... 

4

Annually........................... 

5

Q11. Over the past few years, has the frequency of testing English, reading, or language arts skills at 

your school... ( Check one)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Increased......................... 

1

Decreased ....................... 

2

Stayed the same.............. 

3
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 6

Q12. On average, how often do teachers in your school test the Arithmetic or math skills of their 

students? ( Check one)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

More than once a week ... 

1

Weekly............................. 

2

Monthly ............................ 

3

Quarterly.......................... 

4

Annually........................... 

5

Q13. Over the past few years, has the frequency of testing Arithmetic or math skills at your school...

( Check one)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Increased......................... 

1

Decreased ....................... 

2

Stayed the same.............. 

3
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 7

Part 3: Parental Involvement

This section asks about parental involvement in your school programs.

Q14. Does the school do the following for parents? 

( Check one on each row) (Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

Yes No

a. inform them of their student’s progress halfway 

through the grading period ....................................... 

1 2

b. notify them when their student is sent to the office 

for disruptive behavior .............................................. 

1 2

c. provide them with weekly or daily notes about 

their child’s progress................................................. 

1 2

d. provide them with a newsletter about what’s going 

on in their child’s school or school system ............... 

1 2

e. invite them to attend leadership workshops ............. 

1 2

Q15. What proportion of parents participate in the following activities in your school? 

( Check one on each row) 

(Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

All Some Few None

Not 

Offered

a. Parents speak to classes about their 

jobs ......................................................... 

1 2 3 4 5

b. Parents participate in instruction ............ 

1 2 3 4 5

c. Parents attend parent/teacher 

conferences ............................................ 

1 2 3 4 5

d. Parents accompany students on 

class trips................................................ 

1 2 3 4 5

e. Parents help out with sports 

activities .................................................. 

1 2 3 4 5

f. Parents attend open-houses or 

back-to-school nights.............................. 

1 2 3 4 5

g. Parents serve on advisory boards .......... 

1 2 3 4 5 
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 8

Part 4: Safety Measures

This section asks about whether your school utilizes certain kinds of safety

measures.

Q16. Does your school currently have the following? ( Check yes or no on each row)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

Yes No

a. A requirement that visitors sign in or check in.... 

1 2

b. A process for screening students using metal 

detectors ............................................................. 

1 2

c. A requirement that all or most of the students 

stay on school grounds during lunch.................. 

1 2

d. Drug sweeps....................................................... 

1 2

e. Daily presence of police or security persons...... 

1 2

f. Video surveillance .............................................. 

1 2

Q17. During this school year (2012-13), how many students were:

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Suspended: ____________ (number)

Expelled: ____________ (number)

Part 5: DC Opportunity Scholarship Program

This section asks about your knowledge of and experience with the DC 

Opportunity Scholarship Program, administered by the Trust

Q18. How did you hear about the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, the federally-funded 

scholarship program for students from low-income DC families administered by DC Children and 

Youth Investment Trust Corporation (Trust)? 

( Check all that apply) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

a. I read about the program in the newspaper but do not know 

the details ...................................................................... 

1

b. I talked to other principals about the program............... 

2

c. I have not heard of the program .................................... 

3

d. The Washington Teachers’ Union provided information about 

the program ................................................................... 

4

e. Other (please specify _____________________)........ 

5
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 9

Q19. In the past 5 years or since you became principal, have you made any changes specifically to 

encourage students interested in private schools (or the DC Opportunity Scholarship program) to 

remain enrolled in your school? 

( Check one)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Yes ................................

1

No..................................

2

(Go to Question 24)

Q20. Which of the following changes did you make specifically to encourage DC Opportunity 

Scholarship students to enroll in your school or to assist those that do enroll?

( Check all that apply) (Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

a. Added parent orientation or meeting to describe school 

offerings and performance....................................................... 

01

b. Offered additional courses (e.g., introduced a course in 

computer technology or art)..................................................... 

02

c. Increased school safety provisions ......................................... 

03

d. Adjusted disciplinary rules ....................................................... 

04

e. Altered class sizes................................................................... 

05

f. Added tutoring or other special services to help improve 

academic achievement............................................................ 

06

g. Participated in one or more Trust school fairs......................... 

07

h. Promoted your school through the use of flyers, radio ads, 

newspapers ads, or other methods of advertising. ................. 

08

i. Made efforts to improve the physical appearance of your 

school ...................................................................................... 

09

j. Reduced tuition or provided families with financial aid or 

tuition assistance ..................................................................... 

10

Q21. Have you done any of the following to encourage DC Opportunity Scholarship students to stay at 

this school?

( Check all that apply) (new item)

a. Meet with parents to discuss how their child is doing ..........................

01

b. Meet with teachers to assess approaches for helping 

the student succeed academically .......................................................

02

c. Meet with the student to discuss issues that may be 

hindering their progress........................................................................

03

d. Identify additional financial aid to meet family needs ...........................

04
Public School Principal Questionnaire Spring 2013- DRAFT 10

Q22. Since you have been principal at this school, what is your best estimate of the number of students 

that have left your school as a result of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program? 

( Check one) 

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

a. None ................................ 

1

b. 1-6.................................... 

2

c. 6-10.................................. 

3

d. 11-20................................ 

4

e. 21-30................................ 

5

f. More than 30 ................... 

6

g. Don’t know....................... 

8

END: Thank you for completing this survey.