Principals Report Increased Levels of Satisfaction with Department’s Supports and Services
More than 1,350 School Leaders Responded; Participation Increased 11 Points from Spring 2008 Principal Satisfaction Survey
(View the results of the Fall 2008 survey)
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today released the results of the Department of Education’s third Principal Satisfaction Survey, which is administered as part of the Chancellor’s commitment to improving the quality of services that the Department of Education (DOE) provides to schools. About 91%, or 1,359, of the City’s 1,497 principals responded to the anonymous online survey in November and December of 2008, rating the effectiveness of the DOE in supporting schools operationally and academically. As with previous principal satisfaction surveys, a large majority of principals said they were satisfied with the supports they receive, and their satisfaction has increased in several key areas since the first survey was conducted in the fall of 2007. Overall, 77% of principals feel supported by the DOE in attaining their overall school goals, up from 71% one year ago.
“I am pleased that so many of our principals completed this fall’s survey. The results show us what principals think is working well and what they think needs to improve,” Chancellor Klein said. “The results help us to provide schools with the resources and supports they need to ensure student success.”
The Principal Satisfaction Survey addressed four main topics: the DOE’s overall performance; the quality of academic services provided by school support organizations and the DOE central offices; the quality of operational services provided by the Integrated Service Centers and by central offices regarding facilities, food, pupil transportation, health, safety, finance, technology, family engagement, legal services, and compliance; and the effectiveness of the DOE’s accountability tools. Participation in the survey was entirely voluntary, and responses were anonymous.
Highlights from this fall’s survey results include:
- 77% (76% in March; 71% in November 2007) of principals feel supported by the DOE in attaining their overall school goals;
- 81% (79% in March; 73% in November 2007) of principals feel the DOE has helped them to set clear measures of progress for student achievement;
- 95% (95% in March; 92% in November 2007) of principals are satisfied with the overall quality of support provided by their school support organization;
- 88% (81% in March; 71% in November 2007) of principals are satisfied with the overall quality of support provided by their Integrated Service Center, with increases across all five boroughs;
- 90% (85% in March 2008 and November 2007) of principals are satisfied with the overall quality of support provided by their Senior Achievement Facilitator.
Principals expressed increased satisfaction in many areas of special education and enrollment services, though fewer than 70% were satisfied with at least one area of service in these categories. The DOE will conduct the next survey in the spring.
Click here to view the full results of the survey.