Evaluation of the DC Opportunity 

Scholarship Program

Parent Questionnaire

Spring 2013

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Expiration Date: 
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 1

Your child’s name is listed on the cover. Please write his or her name here: 

________________________. When you read “your child,” please think about this

child only. 

Where the terms “child” and “children” have been used in this questionnaire this 

means children of all ages – from 5-18.

Please answer every question.

Part 1: About Your Child

This section asks questions about the child listed on the cover. 

Q1. What is this child’s date of birth: |__|__| / |__|__| / |__|__|__|__|

D D M M Y Y Y Y

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Q2a. What school is this child currently attending? (new item)

School Name: ___________________________________________________________

School Address: _________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Q2b. Is the school this child is currently attending your neighborhood school?

( Check one) (new item)

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

1

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

2

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

3

Q3. On average, how many minutes does it take this child to get from home to school each

morning? (Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

_____________ minutes
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 2

Part 2: Questions about This Child’s School

Q4. During this school year (2012-13), how often did you do the following in this child’s school:

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

Never Once

2 or 3 

times

4 or 

more 

times

a. Receive report cards about this child’s 

performance........................................................... 

1 2 3 4

b. Receive information about this child’s 

school, such as newsletters and school 

notices ................................................................... 

1 2 3 4

c. Communicate with a teacher informally

(in person, by phone, or via email) ....................... 

1 2 3 4

d. Attend parent-teacher conferences ....................... 

1 2 3 4

e. Attend school activities for families 

(dinners, student presentations, open 

houses, family math or science nights) ................. 

1 2 3 4

f. Volunteer in the school .......................................... 

1 2 3 4

g. Attend a PTA 

(or other similar organization meeting).................. 

1 2 3 4

h. Accompany students on class trips ....................... 

1 2 3 4

Q5. In the past MONTH, how often did you do the following?

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

Never Once

2 or 3 

times

4 or 5 

times

6 or 

more 

times

a. Help this child with his or her homework ............ 

1 2 3 4 5

b. Help this child with reading or math that was 

not part of his or her homework.......................... 

1 2 3 4 5

c. Talk to this child about his or her experiences 

in school.............................................................. 

1 2 3 4 5

d. Work with child on a school project .................... 

1 2 3 4 5
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 3

Q6. How satisfied are you with the following aspects of this child’s current school? 

( Check one box per row)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey, revised)

Very

dissatisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied

Very 

Satisfied

a. Location of school.................................. 

1 2 3 4

b. School safety ......................................... 

1 2 3 4

c. Class sizes............................................. 

1 2 3 4

d. School facilities...................................... 

1 2 3 4

e. Respect between teachers and 

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

1 2 3 4

f. How much teachers inform parents of 

students’ progress ................................ 

1 2 3 4

g. How much students can observe 

religious traditions.................................. 

1 2 3 4

h. Parental support for the school.............. 

1 2 3 4

i. Discipline ............................................... 

1 2 3 4

j. Academic quality ................................... 

1 2 3 4

k. Racial mix of students ........................... 

1 2 3 4

l. Access to information about the 

school through printed materials or 

the school web site ................................ 

1 2 3 4

m. Services for students who struggle 

academically.......................................... 

1 2 3 4

n. Availability of textbooks/supplies ........... 

1 2 3 4

o. Availability of computers........................ 

1 2 3 4

p. Teacher absenteeism 

1 2 3 4

Q7. Overall, how safe do you feel this child’s current school is? (new item)

Very safe ...........................................

1

Somewhat safe .................................

2

Not safe.............................................

3
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 4

Q8. How serious are the following problems at this child’s school? 

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

Very 

serious

Somewhat 

serious

Not

serious

a. Kids destroying property ............................... 

1 2 3

b. Kids being late for school .............................. 

1 2 3

c. Kids missing classes ..................................... 

1 2 3

d. Fighting.......................................................... 

1 2 3

e. Cheating ........................................................ 

1 2 3

f. Racial conflict ................................................ 

1 2 3

g. Guns or other weapons................................. 

1 2 3

h. Drug distribution ............................................ 

1 2 3

i. Drug and alcohol use .................................... 

1 2 3

Q9. Does your child receive any of the following services in his/her current school?

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

Yes No

a. Before-school care ....................................... 

1 2

b. After-school care .......................................... 

1 2

c. Tutoring in school for math........................... 

1 2

d. Tutoring in school for reading....................... 

1 2

e. Federally funded free or reduced price 

lunch ............................................................. 

1 2

Q10. If your child has a physical disability, does the school address your child’s needs (e.g., ramps, 

special aide)?

( Check one) (new item)

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

1

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

2

My child does not have a physical disability ................

3

Q11. If your child has a learning problem, does the school provide your child with accommodations

(e.g., more time on tests)?

( Check one) (new item)

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

1

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

2

My child does not have a learning problem ................

3

Q12. If your child’s primary language is not English, does the school provide support to learn English?

( Check one) (new item)

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

1

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

2

My child’s primary language is English. ......................

3
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 5

Q13. If your child is struggling academically, does the school provide your child with support 

(e.g., extra instruction, individualized instruction, tutoring)?

( Check one) (new item)

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

1

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

2

My child does not struggle academically .....................

3

Q14. What overall grade would you give this child’s current school? 

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Excellent (A)......................................

1

Good (B)............................................

2

Fair (C) .............................................

3

Unsatisfactory (D) .............................

4

Failing (F)..........................................

5

Q15. In the last month, approximately how many days did this child:

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

None 1-2 Days

3-4 

Days

5 or

more

days

Don’t 

Know

a. Miss school..........................................

1 2 3 4 5

b. Come to school 1⁄2 hour or more 

late.......................................................

1 2 3 4 5

Q16. During this school year (2012-13), was this child ever suspended from school for disciplinary 

reasons?

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

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

1

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

2

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

3
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 6

Q17. How far in school do you expect your child to go?

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Some high school......................................................................... 

1

Complete high school .................................................................. 

2

Attend but not complete a 2-year college .................................... 

3

Get a 2-year college degree ........................................................ 

4

Attend but not complete a 4-year college .................................... 

5

Get a 4-year college degree ........................................................ 

6

Obtain an associate’s degree (AA, AS) or an occupational 

certificate...................................................................................... 

7

Obtain a bachelor’s degree................................................................

8

Obtain a master’s degree or other higher degree........................ 

9

Not sure ................................................................................................ 

10
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 7

Part 3: Questions about choosing schools

and the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program

Q18. How did you first become aware of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program?

(Teske, Appendix C Item 16)

Check All That 

Apply

a. Letters, brochures, or guides from/about schools ...................... 

1

b. Mass media ................................................................................ 

2

c. School visit.................................................................................. 

3

d. Talked with teachers/school officials .......................................... 

4

e. Talked with family/friends/other parents..................................... 

5

f. Common knowledge................................................................... 

6

g. Worked in the school system...................................................... 

7

h. Through experiences with older children.................................... 

8

i. Through personal experience..................................................... 

9

j. By doing research....................................................................... 

10

Q19. What was the most important reason in your choice of schools for this child for this school 

year? (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Check Only One

a. Location of school....................................................................... 

1

b. School safety .............................................................................. 

2

c. Class sizes.................................................................................. 

3

d. School facilities........................................................................... 

4

e. Respect between students and teachers ................................... 

5

f. How much teachers inform parents of students’ progress ......... 

6

g. How much students can observe religious traditions ................. 

7

h. Parental involvement in the schools........................................... 

8

i. Discipline .................................................................................... 

9

j. Academic quality ........................................................................ 

10

k. Racial mix of students ................................................................ 

11

l. Services for students who struggle academically....................... 

12

m. My child was happy at their current school ................................ 

13
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 8

Q20. What was the next most important reason in your choice of schools for this child for this school 

year?

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Check Only One

a. Location of school....................................................................... 

1

b. School safety .............................................................................. 

2

c. Class sizes.................................................................................. 

3

d. School facilities........................................................................... 

4

e. Respect between students and teachers ................................... 

5

f. How much teachers inform parents of students’ progress ......... 

6

g. How much students can observe religious traditions ................. 

7

h. Parental involvement in the schools........................................... 

8

i. Discipline .................................................................................... 

9

j. Academic quality ........................................................................ 

10

k. Racial mix of students ................................................................ 

11

l. Services for students with special needs ................................... 

12

n. My child was happy at their current school ................................ 

13

Q21. What was the MOST important source of information in making the choice?

(Teske, Appendix C Item 21)

Check Only One

a. Recommendation from family..................................................... 

1

b. Recommendations from friends or other parents from my

child’s current school, from church, or from other school 

organizations ..............................................................................



2

c. Conversations with teachers/administrators in my child’s 

current school ............................................................................. 

3

d. Newspapers, the radio, television ads........................................ 

4

e. Mailings/Brochures/Guides......................................................... 

5

f. School director (e.g., from the Trust).......................................... 

6
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 9

Q22. Why was this source the most important? (Teske, Appendix C Item 22)

Check Only One

a. The source was reliable and trustworthy.................................. 

1

b. The source possessed more information ................................. 

2

c. The source had firsthand information....................................... 

3

d. The source was the only one considered................................. 

4

e. The source was the most readily 

available/convenient ................................................................. 

5

Q23. What type of additional information do you think would have been helpful in choosing a school for 

this child? (Teske, Appendix C Item 42)

Check All That Apply

a. Test scores or other measures of academic quality................. 

1

b. Staff characteristics .................................................................. 

2

c. Curriculum or instructional programs used............................... 

3

d. Financial information (e.g., costs for tuition, 

uniforms, transportation)........................................................... 

4

e. Social services information (e.g., mental health 

services, counseling)................................................................ 

5

f. Demographics................................................................ 

6

g. Comparative information ............................................................ 

7

h. Information about violence/safety (e.g., rates of 

suspension, reported drug use).................................................. 

8

Q24. Did this child get an offer of a scholarship to attend a private school through the DC Opportunity 

Scholarship program? ( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

a. No, This child did not get an offer of a scholarship........................

1

(Go to question 28)

b. Yes, This child did get an offer of a scholarship and this child 

used the scholarship ......................................................................

2

(Go to question 25)

c. Yes, this child did get an offer of a scholarship but this child 

did not use the scholarship ............................................................

3

(Go to question 27)

Q25. If your child began the 2012-2013 school year at a private school with scholarship funding, did he 

or she switch to another school partway through the year?

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

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

1

(Go to question 28)

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

2

(Go to question 26)
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 10

Q26. Why did this child leave the private school he/she attended?

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

a. This child did not like that private school..................................... 

01

b. The work at that private school was too hard ............................. 

02

c. The work at that private school was too easy ............................. 

03

d. It was too hard to get my child to that private school each day .. 

04

e. The discipline/rules were too strict at that private school............ 

05

f. This child was unable to make friends in that private school...... 

06

g. The religious activities at that private school made my child 

uncomfortable.............................................................................. 

07

h. This child wanted to return to his/her friends in public school .... 

08

i. This child liked his/her public school better than that private 

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

09

j. There was another private school this child liked better ............. 

10

k. This child did not get the academic support he/she needed at 

that private school ....................................................................... 

11

(Go to Question 28)

Q27. Why did this child not use the offer of the scholarship?

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

a. This child did not want to leave his/her friends in public 

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

01

b. This child’s public school has sports that the private 

school(s) did not ......................................................................... 

02

c. This child thought the work might be too hard in the 

private school(s)......................................................................... 

03

d. There was no space at the participating private school 

this child wanted to attend.......................................................... 

04

e. The private school(s) this child was interested in were 

too far from home or too hard to get to ...................................... 

05

f. This child’s public school teachers are better ............................ 

06

g. This child got into a charter school............................................. 

07

h. This child did not want to be held back a grade......................... 

08

i. This child did not want to have religious instruction................... 

09

j. This child did not have to wear a uniform in public school......... 

10

k. This child did not pass the private school’s admission 

test.............................................................................................. 

11

l. The private school(s) did not have the services for this 

child’s learning or physical disability or other special 

needs.......................................................................................... 

12

m. The private school this child wanted to attend was not 

participating ................................................................................ 

13

n. This child moved out of DC ....................................................... 

14
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 11

Q28. Do you plan to send this child to the same school next year?

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

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

1

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

2

(Go to Question 30)

Do not know yet ................................

3

(Go to Question 30)

Q29. What is the main reason why this child not be attending the same school next year?

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

a. The school is in an inconvenient location.............................................

01

b. The school is too expensive.............................................................. 

02

c. The child was offered admission to a preferred private school............

03

d. The child was offered admission to a preferred public school .............

04

e. My child was not comfortable at the school .........................................

05

f. I want all of my children to be in the same school ...............................

06

g. The quality of the teachers was unacceptable.....................................

07

h. I am concerned about school safety ....................................................

08

i. The coursework was too difficult ..........................................................

09

j. The coursework was too easy..............................................................

10

k. The discipline/rules were too strict.......................................................

11

l. The discipline/rules were too easy.......................................................

12

m. I did not feel the teachers were providing enough academic 

support for my child..............................................................................

13

n. The child was asked not to return ........................................................

14

o. The child is graduating to another school ............................................

15

p. The school did not meet the child’s special needs...............................

16

q. The child moved out of DC................................................................ 

17
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 12

Part 4: Questions about the Child’s Parents or Legal Guardian

Q30. Who is completing this questionnaire? Please mark your relationship to the child:

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Child's primary female guardian..................................

1

Child's primary male guardian.....................................

2

Other (please specify

_____________________________).........................

3

Q31. For kindergarten through 12th grade, did you attend a public or private school?

(Teske, Appendix C Item 50)

Check

Only One

a. Public .......................................................................... 

1

b. Private......................................................................... 

2

c. Both ............................................................................ 

3

Q32. Were any schools you attended charter schools?

( Check one) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

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

1

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

2

Q33. How many years have you lived in your current residence? 

( Check one box)

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Less than 3 months........................................

1

3-11 months ...................................................

2

1-2 years ........................................................

3

More than 2 years ..........................................

4

Q34. Do you currently have a job outside the home, either full-time or part-time?

( Check one box) (Previous DC Choice Study survey)

Yes, a full time job (35+ hours) ......................

1

Yes, a part time job (less than 35 hours) .......

2

Not working now, but looking for work ...........

3

Not working now and not looking for work .....

4

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

5
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 13

Q35. How many years and months have you worked, either part-time or full-time, since leaving school?

(Previous DC Choice Study survey)

____Years ____Months
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 14

Part 5: Contact Information

Please Provide Your Current Contact Information:

Last Name: _____________________________ First Name: _________________________ MI: ____

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Phone number _______________________________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________________________

Additional Contact Information

Please provide the names and addresses for three people who are likely to know the whereabouts of the 

child in the future. The contact people listed do not have to be family members and can be friends and/or 

neighbors of the family.

Contact Information for:

Last Name: _____________________________ First Name: _________________________ MI: ____

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Phone number _______________________________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________________________

Relationship to child: ____________________________

Contact Information for:

Last Name: _____________________________ First Name: _________________________ MI: ____

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Phone number _______________________________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________________________

Relationship to child: ____________________________
Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 15

Contact Information for:

Last Name: _____________________________ First Name: _________________________ MI: ____

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Phone number _______________________________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________________________

Relationship to child: ____________________________

Thank you for completing the survey.