# Evaluation of the DC Opportunity

**Scholarship Program Parent Questionnaire**  **Spring 20 13** 

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 mi nutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is mandatory (citing authority)/required to obtain or retain benefit (citing authority) or voluntary. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Departm ent of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number XXXX-XXXX. Note: Please do not return the completed XXXX (cite form or other applicable reporting mechanism) application to this address. **OM B #:**  **Expiration Date:** Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 1



### Your child’s name is listed on the cover. Please write his or her name here: **________________________. When y ou read “y** **our 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: A** **bout Your Child This section asks questions about the child listed on the co** **ver.** Q1. What is this child’s date of birth: |__|__| / |__|__| / |__|__|__|__| D D M M Y Y Y Y ( P revious DC Choice Study survey ) Q2a . What school is this child currently attending? ( new item ) School Name:

________________________________ ___________________________ School Address :

________________________________ _________________________

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Q2b. Is th e 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 )

_____________ mi nutesParent 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) N ever Once 2 or 3

tim es 4 or

more tim es 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 On ce 2 or 3

tim es 4 or 5

tim es 6 or

more tim es 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. Tal k to this child about his or her experiences in school ................................ .............................. 

##  1 

##  2 

##  3 

##  4 

##  5 d. Workwith child on a school project .................... 

##  1 

##  2 

##  3 

##  4 

##  5Parent 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 Som ewhat safe ................................ . 

##  2 Not safe ................................ ............. 

##  3Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 4

Q8 . How serious are the following problems at this child’s school? **(** **Check one on each row)** (P revious DC Choice Study survey) Very serious Som ewhat

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 disabil ity, 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. ...................... 

##  3Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 5

Q1 3 . If your child is struggling academically, does the school provide your child with support (e.g., extra instruction, individualized instruction, tutoring)? **(** **Check on e)**  ( new item ) Yes ................................ ................................ ............... 

##  1 No ................................ ................................ ................. 

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

##  3 Q 14 . 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)** ( P revious 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)** ( P revious DC Choice Study survey ) No ................................ ................................ ................. 

##  1 Yes ................................ ................................ ............... 

##  2 Don’t know ................................ ................................ ... 

##  3Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 6

Q17. How far in school do you expect your child to go? **(** **Check one)** (Previous DC Choice Study survey) Som e 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 ................................ ................................ ................................ 

##  10Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 7 

### Part 3: Questions about choosing schools **and t he**  **DC Opportunity Scholarship Program**  Q1 8. How did you first become aware of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program? (Teske, Appendix C Item 16) **Check A ll That**  **Ap ply**  a. Letters, brochures, or guides from/about schools ...................... 

##  1 b. Mass media ................................ ................................ ................ 

##  2 c. School visit ................................ ................................ .................. 

##  3 d. Tal ked with teachers/school officials ................................ .......... 

##  4 e. Tal ked 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 Q1 9 . What was **t he**  **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 ................................ ................................ 

##  1 1 l. Services for students who struggle academically....................... 

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

##  1 3Parent 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) **Chec k**  **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. Pa rental 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 ................................ 

##  1 3 Q2 1 . 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 m y 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) ................................ .......... 

##  6Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 9

Q22 . Why was this source the most important? 

### ( Teske, Appendix C Item 22



### ) **Che ck**  **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 Al**  **l That A pply**  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. Demog raphics ................................ ................................ 

##  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 2 8 ) 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 chi ld 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 m y child to that private school each day .. 

##  04 e. The discipline/rules were too strict at th at 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 m y child uncomfortable ................................ ................................ .............. 

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

##  08 i. This child li ked 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 wa nted to attend was not participating ................................ ................................ ................ 

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

##  14Parent 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 m y 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 m y child ................................ ................................ .............. 

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

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

##  1 5 p. The school did not meet the child’s special needs ............................... 

##  1 6 q. The child moved out of DC ................................ ................................ 

##  1 7Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 12 

### Part 4: **Questions a bout the**  **Child’s Parents or Legal Guardian** Q30 . Who is com pleting this questionnaire? Please mark your relationship to the child: **(** **Check one)** ( P revious DC Choice Study survey ) Child's primary female guardian ................................ .. 

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

##  2 Other (please specify

_____________________________) ......................... 

##  3 Q3 1 . 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)** ( P revious DC Choice Study survey ) Yes ................................ ................................ . 

##  1 No ................................ ................................ ... 

##  2 Q33 . How many years have you lived in your current residence? **(** **Check one box)** ( P revious 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 -tim e or part-time? **(** **Check one box)** ( P revious 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 ................................ ..................... 

##  5Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 13

Q35 . How many years and months have you worked, either part-tim e or full-tim e, since leaving school? ( P revious DC Choice Study survey ) ____Years ____MonthsParent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 14 

### Part 5: C**ontact Information Please Provide**  **Your Current**  **Contact Information:** Last Name: _________________

__ ___ _______ First Name: ___________________

______ MI:

____ Address:

________________________________ ________________________________ ___________

________________________________ ________________________________ ___________ Phone number

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Em ail Address:

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ **Ad ditional Contact Information**  Please provide th e 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

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Em ail Address:

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Relationship to child : ____________________________ **Contact Information for:** Last Name: _________________

__ ___ _______ First Nam e: ___________________

______ MI:

____ Address:

________________________________ ________________________________ ___________

________________________________ ________________________________ ___________ Phone number

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Em ail Address:

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Relationship to child : ____________________________Parent Questionnaire – Spring 2013 15

**Contact Information for:** Last Name: _________________

__ ___ _______ First Name: ___________________

______ MI:

____ Add ress:

________________________________ ________________________________ ___________

________________________________ ________________________________ ___________ Phone number

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Em ail Address:

________________________________ ________________________________ _______ Relationship to child : ____________________________ 

### Thank y**ou for completing the survey.**