Boston Public Schools administered surveys to students, teachers, and families in late 2020 to  gather perceptions about Engagement, Relationships, Cultural Awareness & Action, and the Remote Learning environment. Results were shared with schools and reviewed by staff. Highlights are posted below.

Response rates varied across surveys:

47% of students in grades 3-12 (17,436 responses)

53% of teachers (2,375 responses)

29% of families (13,176 responses)

Students were asked to rate their experience across several levels of engagement. The questions were designed to develop a deeper understanding of how students were connecting with their teachers, schools, and fellow students. Highlights include:

• Students responded most favorably to questions about their learning environment (67%), including questions about access and support with online school work (Seventy-five percent of students surveyed responded that their teachers are ‘quite helpful’ or ‘extremely helpful’ in supporting their learning right now.)
  
  
• Only 37% of students responded favorably to questions about classroom engagement, including questions about ease and excitement to access online learning resources. (Only 31% of students surveyed responded that they felt ‘quite connected’ or ‘extremely connected’ to other students at school right now.)

Teachers were asked to rate their work with students and colleagues. Highlights include:

• Since the spring survey, teachers responded more favorably on the well-roundness of curriculum (Spring 45% vs. Fall 66%), and less challenging to communicate with families (Spring 38% vs. Fall 57%). However, teachers also reported less frequent communication with families since Spring (Fall 84% vs. 78%).  

• While 85% of teachers responded favorably to questions about classroom engagement, only 37% of students responded favorably to questions about classroom engagement.

Families had the opportunity to rate their overall experience with remote learning and engagement with the district. Highlights include:

• Families responded most favorably about questions related to Family-School Communication (74%). Eighty percent of family members reported that it was easy to get in contact with their child(ren)’s teachers.
  
  
• Families reported more ambivalence with remote learning. While 86% of respondents indicated that their child/children’s school promoted good relationships with parents, only 56% reported that they were satisfied with how learning is structured at this point.