Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) (KA)

OECD Program for
International Student Assessment 2006
USA
Main Study PISA 2006

/

Date Completed
Mon

/ 2006
Day

SCHOOL QUESTIONNAIRE

School Name
School ID

Multiple coding
Office Use Only
MCS

MCR

MCM

Project Consortium:
Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Netherlands National Institute for Educational Measurement (CITO)
Educational Testing Service (ETS, USA)
National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER, Japan)

This questionnaire asks for information including:
• The characteristics of the school;
• The student body;
• The school’s resources;
• Staffing;
• The organization of the school;
• The environment in the curriculum;
• Career guidance and preparation of students for further education.
This information helps illustrate the similarities and differences between groups of
schools in order to better establish the context for students’ test results. For
example, the information provided may help to establish the impact of resource
distribution on student achievement – both within and between countries.
What is meant by “science?”
PISA is an international study, and in order to make comparisons between students
and schools in different countries, it is necessary to have a common definition of
‘science’. For the purpose of this questionnaire, science refers only to the core
science subjects of physics, chemistry, earth science and biology either taught in
your curriculum as separate science subjects, or taught within a single ‘integratedscience’ subject. It does NOT include related subjects such as engineering,
technology, mathematics, psychology, economics, nor possible earth science topics
included in geography courses. If in doubt as to whether a school subject other than
physics, chemistry, earth science, biology or integrated-science is science or not,
treat the subject as NOT being science.
The questionnaire should be completed by the principal or designate.
It should take about 30 minutes to complete.
If you do not know an answer precisely, your best estimate will be adequate for the
purposes of the study.
A number of questions refer to tenth grade. If you do not have a tenth grade at
your school then answer these questions for grade nine (or grade eight if you do
not have grades nine or ten).
Your answers will be kept confidential. They will be combined with answers
from other principals to calculate totals and averages in which no one school
can be identified.

1

SECTION A: THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE
SCHOOL
Q1

As of September 25, 2006 what was the total school enrollment
(number of students)?
(Please write a number in each line. Write 0 (zero) if there are none)

Q2

a) Number of boys:

________________

b) Number of girls:

________________

Is your school a public or a private school?
(Please check only one box)
A public school
1

A private school
2

2

Q3

About what percentage of your total funding for a typical
school year comes from the following sources?
(Please write a number in each row. Write 0 (zero) if no funding comes
from that source)
%

a) Government (includes departments, local, regional, state and national)

__________

Student fees or school charges paid by parents (e.g., tuition, fees for
books, etc.)

__________

b)

c) Benefactors, donations, bequests, sponsorships, parent fund raising

__________

d) Other

__________
Total

3

100%

Q4

Do you have the following grade levels in your school?
(Please check one box in each row)
Yes

No

a) Grade 1

1

2

b) Grade 2

1

2

c) Grade 3

1

2

d) Grade 4

1

2

e) Grade 5

1

2

f) Grade 6

1

2

g) Grade 7

1

2

h) Grade 8

1

2

i) Grade 9

1

2

j) Grade 10

1

2

k) Grade 11

1

2

l) Grade 12

1

2

1

2

m) Ungraded school

4

Q5

Approximately what percent of students at this school last year
were eligible for free- or reduced-price lunches through the
National School Lunch Program?
(Please write a number on the line. Write 0 (zero) if there are none)
Percent of
students
eligible:

Q6

________________

About what percentage of students in your school repeated a
grade, at these levels, last academic year?
(Please write a number in each row. Write 0 (zero) if nobody repeated a
grade. Check the ‘not available’ box if the level does not exist in your
school)

%

a) The approximate percentage of students repeating a grade
at the middle/junior high school level (grades7-9) in this
school last year was:
b) The approximate percentage of students repeating a grade
at the high school level (grades 10-12) in this school last
year was:

5

_________

_________

Level not
available in
this school

996

996

Q7

What is the average size of English classes in tenth grade in
your school?
(Please check only one box)
15 students or fewer

01

16-20 students

02

21-25 students

03

26-30 students

04

31-35 students

05

36-40 students

06

41-45 students

07

46-50 students

08

More than 50 students

09

6

Q8

Which of the following best describes the community in which
your school is located?
(Please check only one box)

Q9

A village, hamlet or rural area (fewer than 3,000 people)

1

A small town (3,000 to about 15,000 people)

2

A town (15,000 to about 100,000 people)

3

A city (100,000 to about 1,000,000 people)

4

A large city (with over 1,000,000 people)

5

Some schools organize instruction differently for students with
different abilities. What is your school’s policy about this for
students in tenth grade?
(Please check one box in each row)
For all
subjects

a) Students are grouped by ability into different
classes
b) Students are grouped by ability within their
classes

7

For some
subjects

Not for any
subject

1

2

3

1

2

3

SECTION B: STAFFING
Q10

How many of the following are on the staff of your school?
Include both full-time and part-time teachers. A full-time teacher is employed at least 90% of
the time as a teacher for the full school year. All other teachers should be considered part-time.

(Please write a number in each space provided. Write 0 (zero) if there is
none)

Q11

Full time

Part time

a) Teachers in TOTAL

____

____

b) Teachers fully certified by the state in the main assignment
field

____

____

c) Teachers with a bachelor’s degree

____

____

In the last academic year, did you fill all vacant tenth grade
science teaching positions at your school?
See the preliminary note on the definition of science inside the front cover. A science
teacher is defined as a teacher of the subject(s) which meet this definition.

(Please check only one box)
Not applicable
(we had no vacant science teaching positions to be filled)

1

Yes
(we filled all vacant science teaching positions, either with newly appointed
staff or by reassigning existing staff)

2

No
(we could not fill one or more vacant science teaching positions)

3

8

Q12

Regarding your school, who has a considerable responsibility
for the following tasks?
(Please check as many boxes as appropriate in each row)
Principal or
teachers

Local school
council,
committee,
or board

State
education
agency

U.S.
Department
of Education

a) Selecting teachers for hire

1

1

1

1

b) Firing teachers

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

c) Establishing teachers’ starting
salaries
d) Determining teachers’ salaries
increases
e) Formulating the school budget
f) Deciding on budget allocations
within the school
g) Establishing student disciplinary
policies
h) Establishing student assessment
policies
i) Approving students for admission
to the school
j) Choosing which textbooks are
used
k) Determining course content
l) Deciding which courses are
offered

9

Q13

Regarding your school, which of the following bodies exert a
direct influence on decision making about staffing, budgeting,
instructional content and assessment practices?
(Please check as many boxes as apply)
Area of influence

Staffing

a) District, state or national
education authorities (e.g.,
Departments of Education)
b) Local school council,
committee, or board
c) Parent groups
d) Teacher groups
(e.g. staff association,
curriculum committees, trade
union)
e) Student groups
(e.g. student association,
youth organization)
f) External examination
boards

Budgeting

Instructional
content

Assessment
practices

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

10

SECTION C: THE SCHOOL’S RESOURCES
Number

Q14a About how many computers are available in the
school altogether?
(Please write 0 (zero) if there are none)

____________

Q14b About how many of these computers are
available for instruction?

____________

Q14c About how many computers in the school are
connected to the Internet/World Wide Web?

____________

11

Q15

Is your school’s capacity to provide instruction hindered by
any of the following?
(Please check one box in each row)
Not at
all

Very
little

To some
extent

A lot

a) A lack of qualified science teachers

1

2

3

4

b) A lack of qualified mathematics teachers

1

2

3

4

c) A lack of qualified English teachers

1

2

3

4

d) A lack of qualified teachers of other subjects

1

2

3

4

e) A lack of laboratory technicians

1

2

3

4

f) A lack of other support personnel

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

g) Shortage or inadequacy of science laboratory
equipment
h) Shortage or inadequacy of instructional
materials (e.g. textbooks)
i) Shortage or inadequacy of computers for
instruction
j) Lack or inadequacy of Internet connectivity
k) Shortage or inadequacy of computer software
for instruction
l) Shortage or inadequacy of library materials
m) Shortage or inadequacy of audio-visual
resources

12

SECTION D: ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMISSION PRACTICES
Q16

This set of questions explores aspects of the school’s
accountability to parents.
(Please check one box in each row)
Yes

a) Does your school provide information to parents of students in tenth
grade on their child’s academic performance relative to other students
in tenth grade in your school?
b) Does your school provide information to parents of students in tenth
grade on their child’s academic performance relative to national or
regional benchmarks?
c) Does your school provide information to parents on the academic
performance of students in tenth grade as a group relative to students
in the same grade in other schools?

Q17

No

1

2

1

2

1

2

Which statement below best characterizes parental
expectations towards your school?
(Please check only one box)
There is constant pressure from many parents, who expect our school to set
very high academic standards and to have our students achieve them
Pressure on the school to achieve higher academic standards among students
comes from a minority of parents
Pressure from parents on the school to achieve higher academic standards
among students is largely absent

13

1

2

3

Q18

In your school, are achievement data used in any of the
following ways?
Achievement data include aggregated school or grade-level test scores or
grades, or graduation rates.
(Please check one box in each row)
Yes

a) Achievement data are posted publicly (e.g. in the media)

1

2

b) Achievement data are used in evaluation of the principal's performance

1

2

c) Achievement data are used in evaluation of teachers' performance

1

2

1

2

1

2

d) Achievement data are used in decisions about instructional resource
allocation to the school
e) Achievement data are tracked over time by an administrative authority
(such as a district, state, or national education agency)

Q19

No

We are interested in the options parents have when choosing a
school for their children. Which of the following statements best
describes the schooling available to students in your location?
(Please check only one box)
There are two or more other schools in this area that compete for our students

1

There is one other school in this area that competes for our students

2

There are no other schools in this area that compete for our students

3

14

Q20

How much consideration is given to the following factors when
students are admitted to your school?
(Please check one box in each row)
Prerequisite

a) Residence in a particular area
b) Student’s academic record
(including placement tests)
c) Recommendation of feeder
schools
d) Parents’ endorsement of the
instructional or religious
philosophy of the school
e) Student’s need or desire for a
special program
f) Attendance of other family
members at the school
(past or present)

15

High
priority

Considered

Not
considered

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

SECTION E: SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Q21

Is your school involved in any of the following activities to
promote engagement with science among students in tenth
grade?
(Please check one box in each row)
Yes

No

a) Science clubs

1

2

b) Science fairs

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

Science competitions other than
school science fairs (e.g., Science
c)
Olympiads, Siemens Westinghouse
Competition, etc.)
d) Extracurricular science projects
(including research)
e) Excursions and field trips

16

Q22

Where do topics on the environment sit in the curriculum
received by students in tenth grade at your school?
Environmental topics include all topics related to environmental science.
These may include environmental issues such as pollution or the
degradation of the environment. Relationships between organisms,
biodiversity and conservation of resources would also be examples of
environmental topics.
(Please check one box in each row. If there are no topics on the
environment in the curriculum received by students in tenth grade please
check “No” in all four rows)
Yes

a) In a specific environmental studies course

No

1

2

1

2

c) As part of a geography course

1

2

d) As part of another course

1

2

b) In the natural sciences courses – for example as part of
biology, chemistry, physics, earth science or within an
integrated science course

17

Q23

Does your school organize any of the following activities to
provide opportunities to students in tenth grade to learn about
environmental topics?
(Please check one box in each row)
Yes

a)

Outdoor education (e.g., field trips
to natural areas)

b) Trips to museums
c) Trips to science and/or technology
centers
d) Extracurricular environmental
projects (including research)
e) Lectures and/or seminars (e.g.
guest speakers)

18

No

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

SECTION F: CAREERS AND FURTHER EDUCATION
Q24

How often would students in tenth grade have the opportunity
to participate in the activities below as part of their normal
schooling?
(Please check one box in each row)
Never

a) Job fairs
b) Lectures (at school) by business or industry
representatives
c) Visits to local businesses or industries

Q25

Once a
year

More than
once a year

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

In your school, about how many students in tenth grade
receive some training within local businesses as part of school
activities during the normal school year (e.g. apprenticeships)?
(Please check only one box)
This is not offered to students in tenth grade

1

Half or less of students in tenth grade

2

More than a half of students in tenth grade

3

19

Q26

Thinking about the curriculum received by students in tenth
grade, which statement below is closest to your view?
(Please check only one box)

Q27

Business and industry have no influence on the curriculum

1

Business and industry have a minor or indirect influence on the curriculum

2

Business and industry have a considerable influence on the curriculum

3

To what extent do you feel that teachers in your school
concentrate on developing in students the skills and
knowledge that will help them progress towards sciencerelated careers?
Science-related career has been used here to include careers that involve a
considerable amount of science but are beyond the traditional idea of a
scientist as someone who works in a laboratory or academic environment
(like a nuclear physicist). As such, a science-related career is not only one
in physics, chemistry or biology. Any career that involves postsecondary
education in a scientific field is considered science-related. Therefore
careers like engineer (involving physics), weather forecaster (involving
earth science), optician (involving biology and physics), and medical
doctors (involving the medical sciences) are all examples of sciencerelated careers.
(Please check only one box)
These skills and knowledge are not a major part of teachers’ pedagogical
activities
These skills and knowledge are integrated into teachers’ pedagogical activities,
but they are not emphasized
These skills and knowledge are a focus of teachers’ pedagogical activities

20

1

2

3

Q28

To what extent do you feel that teachers in your school
concentrate on developing in students the skills and
knowledge that will help them in postsecondary education?
(Please check only one box)
These skills and knowledge are not a major part of teachers’ pedagogical
activities
These skills and knowledge are integrated into teachers’ pedagogical activities,
but they are not emphasized
These skills and knowledge are a focus of teachers’ pedagogical activities

Q29

1

2

3

Who has the main responsibility for career guidance of
students in tenth grade at your school?
(Please check only one box)
Not applicable, career guidance is not available in this school

1

All teachers share the responsibility for career guidance

2

Specific teachers have the main responsibility for career guidance

3

We have one or more specific career guidance counsellors employed at school

4

We have one or more specific career guidance counsellors who regularly visit
the school

21

5

Q30

If career guidance is available at your school, which of the
statements below best describes the situation for students in
tenth grade?
Skip this question if career guidance is not available at your school.
(Please check only one box)
Career guidance is sought voluntarily by students

1

Career guidance is formally scheduled into students’ time at school

2

Thank you for your co-operation

22