Dig into item-level survey responses: examine how students and teachers answer specific questions as a starting point for learning and responding¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The brief's tip instructs leaders to "dig into your data! Take a look at how students and teachers are responding to specific survey questions," asking what people are saying about the culture and climate of the school. It frames scores as "a starting point," with learning more and responding as what matters to improve teachers' and students' experiences and outcomes.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Access to item-level survey response data for students and teachers

Constraints¶

• The brief treats scores as a starting point rather than sufficient; responding to what the data reveals is presented as the necessary follow-through

Target Learners¶

• K-12 students and teachers whose experiences the survey captures

Target Learning Goals¶

• Understanding and improving school culture and climate

Related Strategies¶

• Use a targeted universalist approach to identify student groups with less positive survey reports and respond with empathy, curiosity, and support
• Use annual 5Essentials Survey data to identify school-environment strengths and areas to improve for bullying prevention
• Select one essential support area to improve—chosen for community interest, need, or buy-in—and continue working on it, since improvement in any essential positively impacts student success

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• 5Essentials Survey: New insights for school leaders. (2026). University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. https://consortium.uchicago.edu