Spring School Administrator Questionnaire

APPENDIX C
ECLS-K
Spring 2007 School Administrator Questionnaire

School Administrator
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 30 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 107279 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 Principal or Headmaster,
This questionnaire is an important part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study,
Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K), a major longitudinal study of children's early
education experiences beginning with kindergarten and continuing through the middle
and high school.
This questionnaire is divided into seven sections. The first five sections mainly request
factual information about this school and its programs. These sections can be answered
either by the principal or by a designee who is able to provide the desired information.
The last two sections ask about the school policies and governance, and information about
the principal. We ask that the principal complete these sections.
Some factual questions may request information that is not readily available from school
records. Informed estimates are acceptable for such questions. We realize that you are
very busy; however, we hope that you can complete the 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 your name, address, telephone number, or
identification number 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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SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS
1.

As of October 1, 2006, what was the total student enrollment in your school?
WRITE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

2.

Approximately, what is the Average Daily Attendance for your school this year?
WRITE IN PERCENT OR NUMBER BELOW. TO CALCULATE PERCENT,
DIVIDE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ATTENDING ON AN AVERAGE DAY
BY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED AND THEN MULTIPLY BY 100.
WRITE IN THE PERCENT.
% Average Daily Attendance
(i.e., (number of students attending on an average day) x 100
number of students enrolled

OR
Average Number Attending Daily

3.

Write the date this school year began.

2006
MONTH

4.

DAY

Write the date this school year ends.

2007
MONTH

4

DAY

5.

How many days are students required to attend this academic year? WRITE IN
NUMBER BELOW.

NUMBER OF SCHOOL DAYS

6.

What are the LOWEST and HIGHEST grade levels in your school? MARK THE
TWO GRADE LEVELS.
Pre-K
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Ungraded

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7.

Which of the following characterizes your school? MARK ALL THAT APPLY.
Comprehensive public school (not including magnet school or school of
choice)
Public magnet school
Public school of choice (open enrollment)
Catholic school
Other private school, religious affiliation
Private school, no religious affiliation
High school served by an area or regional vocational school/center (part-time
or part-day)
Full-time technical or vocational school
Other technical or vocational school
Year-round school
Boarding School
Indian Reservation School
Military Academy
Alternative/Stay-in-School/Dropout Prevention School/ Continuation School
Charter school
Special Education School (primarily serves students with disabilities)

8.

Is this school co-educational? MARK ONE.
Yes
No, it is an all-female school
No, it is an all-male school

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9.

[For private schools only:] What is the highest ANNUAL tuition charged by this
school for a full-time {8th} grade student? (Do not include boarding fees.)
$
ANNUAL TUITION

10.

What is the average starting salary for full-time first year teachers at this school?
$
SALARY

11.

Approximately, what percentage of the students in your school belongs to each of
the following racial/ethnic groups? COMPLETE THE NUMBER COLUMN OR THE
PERCENT COLUMN. WRITE NUMBER OR PERCENT ON EACH LINE. ENTER
“0” ON THE LINE IF YOUR SCHOOL HAS NO STUDENTS OF THAT
RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUP. THE PERCENT COLUMN SHOULD ADD TO 100%.
Number

OR

Percent

a. Asian or Pacific Islander
b. Hispanic
c. Black, not of Hispanic origin
d. White, not of Hispanic origin
e. American Indian or Alaska Native

100%

TOTAL

12.

Of the students currently enrolled in this school (and in Grade 8), what percentage
has been identified as limited-English proficient (LEP)? WRITE THE PERCENT. IF
THERE ARE NO STUDENTS IN A CATEGORY WRITE “0.”
Percent
a. LEP in entire school
b. LEP in Grade 8

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13.

Does your school participate in USDA’s (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) school breakfast
program?
Yes (SKIP TO Q15)
No (GO TO Q14)

14.

What are the reasons why your school does not participate in USDA’s school
breakfast program? MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.
Yes
a. Too few eligible students
b. Program too costly
c. School starts too late to serve breakfast
d. School lacks facilities to serve breakfast
e. School lacks staff to serve breakfast
f. Other (PLEASE SPECIFY)

15.

What time is breakfast served at the school? WRITE IN TIME BELOW.
AM
Start Time

16.

AM
End Time

Where is the breakfast typically served for eight graders? MARK ONE.
Cafeteria
Classroom
School bus (as a bag breakfast)
In some other common area of school (as a bag breakfast)
Other (PLEASE SPECIFY)

8

No

17.

Are students who are served breakfast in the cafeteria allowed to take it to the
classroom? MARK ONE.
Yes
No

18.

How many students in your school were (a) eligible for and (b) participating in the
school breakfast program as of October 2006? WRITE IN NUMBERS BELOW.
(a)
Eligible Students
a. Any school lunch?

(b)
Participating Student

All Enrolled

b. Free school breakfast?
c. Reduced-price breakfast?

19.

How many students in your school were (a) eligible for and (b) participating in the
school lunch program as of October 2006? WRITE IN NUMBERS BELOW. IF
SERVICE IS NOT PROVIDED, WRITE ZERO.
(a)
Eligible Students
a. Any school lunch?

(b)
Participating Student

All Enrolled

b. Free school lunch?
c. Reduced-price lunch?

20.

At this school, can students purchase food or beverages from... MARK ONE ON
EACH ROW.
Yes

No

a. One or more vending machines at the school?
b. A school store, canteen, or snack bar?

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21.

Does this school offer a la carte lunch or breakfast items to students, that is, items
not sold as part of the NSLP School Lunch or the School Breakfast Program?
MARK ONE.
Yes
No

22.

Can students purchase, either from vending machines, school store, canteen, snack
bar or a la carte items from the cafeteria during school hours… MARK ONE ON
EACH ROW.
Yes
a. Chocolate candy?
b. Other kinds of candy?
c. Cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries, or other baked goods that are
not low in fat?
d. Salty snacks that are not low in fat, such as regular potato chips?
e. Ice cream or frozen yogurt that is not low in fat?
f. 2% or whole milk?
g. Fruits or vegetables, not juice?
h. Low-fat cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries, or other low-fat baked
goods?
h. Salty snacks that are low in fat, such as pretzels, baked chips, or
other low-fat chips?
i. Bread sticks, rolls, bagels, pita bread, or other bread products?
j. Low-fat or fat-free ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sherbet?
k. Low-fat or non-fat yogurt?
l. 1% or skim milk?
m. Bottled water?
n. 100% fruit juice?
o. 100% vegetable juice?
p. Soda pop, sports drinks, or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice?

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No

23.

At your peak meal time, how full is the cafeteria compared to the maximum seating
capacity? Would you say it is...MARK ONE.
Less than 50% full,
50 to 75% full,
76 to 100% full, or
Over capacity?

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ACADEMIC OPTIONS/COURSE OFFERINGS
24.

Approximately what percentage of your 8th grade students is in each of the
following instructional programs? WRITE PERCENTAGES BELOW (WRITE "0" IF
NO 8th GRADE STUDENTS ARE IN A GIVEN PROGRAM AND CHECK BOX IF
PROGRAM IS NOT OFFERED). THESE PERCENTAGES ARE INDEPENDENT
AND THEREFORE DO NOT NEED TO SUM TO 100%.
Percent
a. Special education (with Individualized Education Plan (IEP))
b. Bilingual education (instruction in both English and students’ native
language)
c. English as a second language
d. Reading instruction for students performing below grade level in reading
e. Math instruction for students performing below grade level in math
f. After school/summer outreach program
g. Gifted and talented

25.

Approximately what percentage of the 8th grade students at this school are enrolled
in each of these mathematics courses? WRITE THE PERCENTAGE ON EACH
LINE. THE FOUR LINES SHOULD SUM TO 100.
Percent
a. Eighth-grade mathematics
b. Pre-algebra
c. Algebra
d. Other mathematics class
TOTAL

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100%

SCHOOL SAFETY
26.

How much of a problem are the following in the neighborhood where this school is
located? MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Big problem

Somewhat
of a problem

No problem

a. Tensions based on racial, ethnic, or religious
differences
b. Selling or using drugs or excessive drinking
in public
c. Gangs
d. Vacant houses and buildings
e. Crime in the neighborhood

27.

To the best of your knowledge how often do the following types of problems occur
at your school? MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.

Happens
daily

Happens
at least
once a
week

Happens
at least
once a
month

Happens
on
occasion

Never
happens

a. Class cutting
b. Physical conflicts among students
c. Theft
d. Vandalism
e. Use of alcohol
f. Use of illegal drugs
g. Student bullying
h. Widespread disorder in classrooms

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28.

Indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements. MARK
ONE ON EACH ROW.

Strongly
disagree
a. Parents are actively involved in this
school’s programs
b. Teacher turnover is a problem at this
school
c. Gang activities are a problem at this
school
d. Racial tensions among students are a
problem at this school
e. Overcrowding is a problem at this
school

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Disagree

Neither
agree
nor
disagree

Agree

Strongly
agree

SCHOOL FACILITIES AND RESOURCES
29.

In general, how adequate is each of the following school facilities for meeting the
needs of the students in your school? MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.
Do not
have

Never
adequate

Often not
adequate

Sometimes
not adequate

Always
adequate

a. Cafeteria?
b. Computer lab?
c. Library/media center?
d. Art room?
e. Gymnasium?
f. Music room?
g. Playground/school yard?
h. Classrooms?
i. Auditorium?
j. Multi-purpose room?

30.

How many portable classrooms are on the school grounds? WRITE IN NUMBER
BELOW. IF NONE, WRITE ZERO.

NUMBER OF PORTABLE CLASSROOMS

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EVALUATION
31.

Based on recent standardized tests, what percent of [8th] grade students in this
school tested at or above grade level on…. WRITE PERCENTS.
Percent
a. Reading or verbal skills, Nationally-normed tests
b. Reading or verbal skills, State tests
c. Mathematics or quantitative skills, Nationally-normed tests
d. Mathematics or quantitative skills, State tests

32.

Is competency testing a state, district, or school requirement? MARK ONE.
State requirement
District requirement
School requirement
Other (PLEASE SPECIFY)

33.

Is the competency testing program tied to explicit content standards or curriculum
frameworks? MARK ONE.
Yes
No

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The school principal or headmaster should complete the remainder of this questionnaire.
If a designee is chosen, please be sure that the background and education characteristics
provided are about the school’s principal or headmaster.

SCHOOL POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE
34.

Which of the following statements best describes your school's approach to
providing instruction in your core curriculum to students who come to you with
different abilities, learning rates, interests, or motivations (do not include Special
Education students when considering your answer)? (If any of the terms are unclear
to you, see the definitions below.)
DEFINITIONS
Ability levels – the distinction among students, or courses, on the basis of the students’
learning aptitudes or past academic achievements, or each course’s adaptation to students’
levels of readiness and learning rates.
Core curriculum – courses in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies that students can
choose from in order to fulfill the school district’s graduation requirements.
Differentiated courses – courses that fulfill the same requirements in the core curriculum
but differ in terms of content, quantity and/or intensity of work, or expectations regarding
independent work.
Differentiated grouping – a school’s approach to providing instruction to students who have
been grouped because of similar learning aptitudes or past academic achievements for the
purpose of providing them instruction in core curriculum areas that is geared to their
abilities in terms of content, quantity and/or intensity of work, or expectations regarding
independent work.
Undifferentiated courses – courses that are equivalent in terms of content, quantity and/or
intensity of work, or expectations regarding independent work, and are open to students
who may have widely differing learning aptitudes or past academic achievements.

MARK ONE.
We offer differentiated courses in our core curriculum but students have open
access to any course provided they have taken the required prerequisite(s)
We offer differentiated courses and do differentiated grouping in our core
curriculum
We offer a variety of undifferentiated courses in our core curriculum, and
students have open access to any course provided they have taken the required
prerequisite(s)
Other (PLEASE SPECIFY)

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35.

Some states and districts have recently initiated school improvement efforts
directed at issues such as adequate yearly progress and state accountability
standards. These activities are usually led by personnel from outside the particular
school. During the last two years have you participated in such activities: MARK
ONE ON EACH ROW.
Yes

No

a. Within your school?
b. As part of a team outside your school?

36.

How much emphasis do you place on the following goals and objectives for your
teachers? MARK ONE ON EACH ROW.
No or Minor
Emphasis
a. Assisting all students to achieve high
standards
b. Using curricula aligned with high standards
c. Using instructional strategies (e.g., hands-on
activities, cooperative learning) aligned with
high standards
d. Participation in professional development
activities

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Moderate
Emphasis

Major
Emphasis

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR CHARACTERISTICS
37.

What is your gender?
Male
Female

38.

In what year were you born?

19
ENTER YEAR

39.

Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin?
Yes
No

40.

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

41.

How many years of experience do you have in each of the following positions?
Years
a. Years as a teacher before becoming a principal
b. Total number of years as a principal
c. Number of years as principal at this school

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42.

What is the highest level of education you have completed? MARK ONE.
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

43.

Date questionnaire completed:

MONTH

44.

DAY

YEAR

Questionnaire Completed By:

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

TITLE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

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MIDDLE
INITIAL