Results: Working conditions improved
(although there’s more work to do)
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KNEA work for new teacher support is paying off.
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KNEA/USA localized sessions on how to use data for school improvement coming soon!
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Kansas teachers are happy about where they work and conditions have, in fact, improved since 2006.
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There are more time and resources available, although time is still a serious concern. Schools are safe and faculties are committed to helping every child learn.
Those are some of the results of the anonymous survey all Kansas teachers, principals and licensed school-based educators took last January. More than 16,600 Kansas educators (42%), including 14,868 teachers, 474 principals, 133 assistant principals and 1,179 other education professionals, took the Kansas Teaching, Learning and Leading (KanTELL) survey.
The last working conditions survey was done in 2006. Teacher-principal perceptions about teaching conditions still vary and school leadership is still seen as an important issue in teacher retention and school improvement.
While the teacher’s decision-making role impacting instruction is ranked very high, less than half (43%) of educators believe teachers have an appropriate level of decision-making on school issues.
Unlike last time, teachers’ perceptions do not vary significantly by school level or years of experience. Collaboration, school leadership and teacher empowerment are the areas seeing the most change.
A detailed report to be released this fall will align educators’ perceptions of working with student learning.
“Comprehensive, sustained efforts to improve teaching and learning conditions will ensure that the state’s educators are able to help make public schools great for every child in Kansas,” said KNEA President Blake West.
“Having a qualified teacher for every student is not enough to impact student issues. Teachers must have the resources and support they need to serve all students well,” he added.
Collaboration
The KNEA and the United School Administrators of Kansas (USA) will again assist local associations and school districts to utilize the data for school improvement. KNEA members can contact their UniServ Office for details.
“The data from this survey is already helping many schools strengthen their collaborative efforts to meet the learning needs of each child,” said KNEA President Blake West. “It is an important tool, both to close achievement gaps and to help teachers succeed in their profession.”
The data is being used by locals and schools in the following ways:
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As one piece of data to consider as a part of school improvement planning.
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To identify needed resources and professional development for school improvement.
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As a tool to create positive school environments where all educators (teachers and principals) are supported, want to work and can thrive.
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KNEA uses the data with policy makers to advocate for resources and sensible decisions to help students learn and to support the educators working in Kansas public schools.
The study, sponsored by the State Board of Education, was conducted by the New Teacher Center at the University of California at Santa Cruz. KNEA members can read about the results in the August 2008 edition of the KNEA Issues or can request a presentation through their UniServ Office. View the complete findings at www.kantell.org.
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