Spring Classroom Teacher Questionnaires

APPENDIX D.4
ECLS-K
Spring 2007 Teacher Background Questionnaire

Spring 2007
Teacher Background Questionnaire

Prepared for the U.S. Department of Education
National Center for Education Statistics by:
Westat
1650 Research Boulevard
Rockville, Maryland 20850

LABEL

Use a #2 pencil to complete this questionnaire.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB
control number for this information collection is 1850-0750. Approval expires 01/31/2009.
The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 10
minutes per response, including the time to review instruction, search existing data
resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collected. If you
have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for
improving the survey instrument, please write to: U.S. Department of Education,
Washington, D.C. 20202-4700. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of
your individual response to this survey, write directly to: National Center for Education
Statistics, 1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-5650.

The collection of information in this survey is authorized by Public Law 107-279
Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Title I, Part C, Sec. 151(b) and Sec. 153(a).
Participation is voluntary. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer;
however, we hope that you will answer as many questions as you can. Your
responses are protected from disclosure by federal statute (PL 107-279, Title I, Part C,
Sec. 183). All responses that relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of
individuals may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or
used, in identifiable form for any other purpose, unless otherwise compelled by law.
Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data that links
your name, address, telephone number, or identification number with your responses
will be included in the statistical reports.

INTRODUCTION
Dear Teacher,
The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998 – 1999 (ECLS-K) is
collecting information from teachers of students who have been participating in this
unique study for many years. ECLS-K is an important ongoing study of students’
educational experiences beginning with kindergarten and continuing through grade 10. It
is unprecedented in its scope and duration and provides important information for
educators and educational policymakers that is available nowhere else.
Information from teachers of participating students is a vital part of ECLS-K. This
questionnaire contains two sections: Teacher Information and School Information.
Obviously, only you can provide this information. Therefore, although we realize you are
very busy, we urge you to complete this questionnaire as accurately as possible.
The information you provide is being collected for research purposes. All responses that
relate to or describe identifiable characteristics of individuals may be used only for
statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other
purpose, unless otherwise compelled by law. Data will be combined to produce statistical
reports. No individual data that links you, your students, or your school with your
responses will be included in the statistical reports.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

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MARKING DIRECTIONS
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND USE A SOFT LEAD (#2) PENCIL TO COMPLETE THIS
QUESTIONNAIRE.
CHECKING BOXES
It is important that you check the box next to your answers and print clearly.
Shown below is the correct way to mark your answers, along with examples of incorrect ways.

Correct Mark:

Incorrect Marks:
Light and thin, outside the box, thick or scrawled.

PRINTING ANSWERS IN BOXES:
Print entire answer in box. Answers should be printed clearly and should not touch or cross any of
the box lines. Do not cross zeroes or sevens. That is, do not write a zero with a line through it like
this – 0, and do not write a seven with a line through it like this – 7.
Write digits like this:

1234567890
Write words like this:

Harry Potter
PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT PAGE
TO BEGIN THE QUESTIONNAIRE.

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TEACHER INFORMATION
1.

What is your gender?
Male
Female

2.

In what year were you born?

19
ENTER YEAR

3.

Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin?
Yes
No

4.

Which best describes your race? MARK ONE OR MORE.
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White

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5.

What is the highest level of education completed by your own parents?
MARK ONE RESPONSE ONLY.
Did not complete high school
High school diploma or GED
Associate’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
At least one year of course work beyond a Bachelor’s degree but not a graduate
degree
Master’s degree
Completed a PhD, MD, or other advanced professional degree
Don’t know

6.

What is the highest level of education you have completed?
MARK ONE RESPONSE ONLY.
High school diploma or GED
Associate’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
At least one year of course work beyond a Bachelor’s degree but not a graduate
degree
Master’s degree
Education specialist or professional diploma based on at least one year of
course work past a Master’s degree level
Doctorate

7.

Are you a(n)…?
English teacher (GO TO QUESTION 8 ON PAGE 6)
Mathematics teacher (GO TO QUESTION 10 ON PAGE 7)
Science teacher (GO TO QUESTION 12 ON PAGE 8)

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THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS ARE FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS ONLY.
8.

Did you have a major, minor, or special emphasis in any of the following subjects as
part of your undergraduate coursework? ENGLISH TEACHERS ONLY.
MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Yes, a major

Yes, a minor or
special emphasis

No

a. Reading, language arts, or literacy
education
b. English
c. Other language arts-related subject
d. Elementary or secondary education

9.

Did you have a major, minor, or special emphasis in any of the following as part of
your graduate coursework? ENGLISH TEACHERS ONLY W/GRADUATE-LEVEL
COURSEWORK.
MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Yes, a major

Yes, a minor or
special emphasis

a. Reading, language arts, or literacy
education
b. English
c. Other language arts-related subject
d. Elementary or secondary education

PLEASE GO TO QUESTION 14 ON PAGE 9.

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No

THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS ARE FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS ONLY.
10.

Did you have a major, minor, or special emphasis in any of the following subjects as
part of your undergraduate coursework? MATHEMATICS TEACHERS ONLY.
MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Yes, a major

Yes, a minor or
special emphasis

No

a. Mathematics education
b. Mathematics
c. Other mathematics-related subject such
as statistics
d. Elementary or secondary education

11.

Did you have a major, minor, or special emphasis in any of the following as part of
your graduate coursework? MATHEMATICS TEACHERS ONLY W/GRADUATELEVEL COURSEWORK.
MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Yes, a major

Yes, a minor or
special emphasis

No

a. Mathematics education
b. Mathematics
c. Other mathematics-related subject such
as statistics
d. Elementary or secondary education

PLEASE GO TO QUESTION 14 ON PAGE 9.

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THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS ARE FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS ONLY
12.

Did you have a major, minor, or special emphasis in any of the following subjects as
part of your undergraduate coursework?
SCIENCE TEACHERS ONLY.
MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Yes, a major

Yes, a minor or
special emphasis

No

a. Biology or other life science
b. Physics, chemistry, or other physical
science
c. Earth or space science
d. Mathematics or mathematics education
or engineering
e. Elementary or secondary education

13.

Did you have a major, minor, or special emphasis in any of the following as part of
your graduate coursework?
SCIENCE TEACHERS ONLY W/GRADUATE-LEVEL COURSEWORK.
MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Yes, a major

Yes, a minor or
special emphasis

a. Biology or other life science
b. Physics, chemistry, or other physical
science
c. Earth or space science
d. Mathematics or mathematics education
or engineering
e. Elementary or secondary education

PLEASE GO TO QUESTION 14 ON PAGE 9.

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No

14.

Counting this school year, how many years have you been a school teacher,
including part-time teaching?
YEARS

15.

Counting this school year, how many years have you taught in this general subject
area, including part-time teaching?
YEARS

16.

Counting this school year, how many years have you taught in your current school,
including part-time teaching?
YEARS

17.

In the state in which you teach, what type of teaching certification do you hold?
MARK ONE RESPONSE ONLY.
Regular or standard state certificate or advanced professional certificate
Probationary certificate (the initial certificate issued after satisfying all
requirements except the completion of a probationary period)
Provisional or other type given to persons who are still participating in what
the state calls an “alternative certification program”
Temporary certificate (requires some additional college coursework and/or
student teaching before regular certification can be obtained)
Emergency certificate or waiver (issued to persons with insufficient teacher
preparation who must complete a regular certification program in order to
continue teaching)
Regular or full certification by an accrediting or certifying body other than the
state
I do not have any of the above certifications in this state

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18.

In what content area(s) does the teaching certificate marked above allow you to
teach in this state?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY.

EDUCATION

NATURAL SCIENCES

Early childhood/Pre-K, general

Science, general

Elementary grades, general

Biology/Life sciences

Secondary education

Chemistry

Middle grades, general

Earth Science

Special education

Physical science
Physics

ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS

Other natural sciences

Communications
Composition

SOCIAL SCIENCES

English

Social studies, general

Journalism

Anthropology

Language Arts

Economics

Reading

Geography

Speech

Government/Civics

English as a Second Language

History

ESL/Bilingual Education

Native American studies
Psychology

MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER
SCIENCE

Sociology
Other social sciences

Mathematics
Computer science

OTHER
Vocational/Technical education
Foreign languages
Health education
Art or music
Other (specify)

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19.

Have you taken the following test?

MARK ONE RESPONSE ONLY.
Not taken

Taken and
passed

Taken and
have not
yet passed

Taken and
awaiting
test results

a. An exam for National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards
certification

20.

Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each of the following statements
on teaching.
MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Strongly
disagree

Disagree

Neither
disagree
nor agree

Agree

Strongly
agree

a. I really enjoy my present teaching
job.
b. I am certain I am making a
difference in the lives of the
students I teach.
c. If I could start over, I would
choose teaching again as my
career.
d. I am satisfied with my class size.
e. I worry about the security of my
job because of the performance of
the students in my class(es) on
state or local tests.

21.

How well prepared are you in teaching students from different cultural
backgrounds?
MARK ONE RESPONSE ONLY.
Well prepared
Moderately prepared
Not well prepared

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SCHOOL INFORMATION
22.

Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each of the following statements
about your school.

MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.
a. Staff members in this school generally have
school spirit.
b. The level of student misbehavior (e.g., noise,
horseplay, or fighting in the halls or cafeteria)
in this school interferes with my teaching.
c. Many of the students I teach are not capable
of learning the material I am supposed to
teach them.
d. I feel accepted and respected as a colleague by
most staff members.
e. Teachers in this school are continually
learning and seeking new ideas.
f. Routine administrative duties and paperwork
interfere with my job of teaching.
g. Parents are supportive of school staff.
h. If I try really hard, I can get through even to
the most difficult or unmotivated students.
i. I feel that it’s part of my responsibility to
keep students from dropping out of school.
j. If some students in my class are not doing
well, I feel that I should change my approach
to the subject.
k. By trying a different teaching method, I can
significantly affect a student’s achievement.
l. There is really very little I can do to insure
that most of my students achieve at a high
level.
m. I work to create lessons so my students will
enjoy learning and become independent
thinkers.
n. I feel sometimes it is a waste of my time to
try to do my best as a teacher.
o. The attitudes and habits students bring to my
class greatly reduce their chances for
academic success.
p. My success or failure in teaching is due
primarily to factors beyond my control rather
than to my own effort or ability.

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Neither
disagree
Strongly
disagree Disagree nor agree

Agree

Strongly
agree

23.

Date questionnaire completed:

MONTH

DAY

YEAR

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

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