Principals Survey

APPENDIX C
PRINCIPAL SURVEY
1. Principal Letter
2. Principal Questionnaire

PRINCIPAL SURVEY COVER LETTER
Dear [PRINCIPAL NAME]:

Your school is participating in the national Evaluation of the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) conducted
by Mathematica Policy Research for the U.S. Department of Education. This important study will produce
valuable information on the impact of performance-based incentive programs on student achievement, the
career paths of principals and teachers, and the ability of schools to retain high-quality staff.
As part of the study, school principals are being asked to complete a Web-based survey this spring and
annually thereafter through spring 2015. Each survey will take about 30 minutes of your time. This first
survey is designed to learn about the hiring practices of school administrators, understand how principals
and teachers are evaluated and compensated for their performance, and assess principals’ understanding of
the TIF program. The survey also collects information on principals’ demographic characteristics,
educational background, and professional experiences.
While your participation is voluntary, the information collected from principals like you will be
extremely important to the study’s findings. We will mail you a check for $20 in appreciation of your
participation upon receipt of the completed questionnaire this year and each subsequent year.
The information you provide in this survey will be kept strictly confidential and will not be
shared with anyone outside the study team. District officials, principals, and school staff will not
have access to the survey data. Responses will be presented only in aggregate form and will not
identify any individual or school.
Please use the information below to access the TIF principal survey.
Go to https://www.xxxxxxx.org/
At the login screen, enter the following:
Login ID: [username]
Password: [password]
If you have any questions, please contact Annette Luyegu, the deputy survey director, toll free at 866xxx-xxxx or [email protected].
Thank you for your cooperation and participation in this important study.
Sincerely,

Sheila Heaviside
Survey Director

OMB Control No.: XXXX-XXXX
Expiration Date: XX/XX/20XX
Mathematica Reference No.: 06715

[PROGRAM NAME]
SPRING 2012
PRINCIPAL SURVEY
This survey is part of the evaluation of the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF), a federally funded initiative on
performance pay for educators. The survey includes questions about your background, your school’s
hiring practices, classroom assignments, and knowledge and perceptions of the TIF program.
We would like you to know that:
1. This survey is voluntary, but your response is critical for producing valid and reliable data. You may
skip any questions you do not wish to answer; however, we hope that you answer as many questions
as you can. Your answers to questions will not affect your school now or in future and will not be
shared with anyone else other than the researchers. Participation in the principal survey will not
impose any risks to you as a respondent. If you have any questions about your rights as a research
volunteer, you can contact Jennifer Stavrakos at Public/Private Ventures IRB, toll free 800-755-4778
x4410.
2. Responses to this data collection will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports prepared for
this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific
school or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your school to anyone
outside the study team, except as required by law. Additionally, no one in your school or district will
see your responses.

Thank you very much for your help with this survey.
Please return the completed form to:
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
707 Alexander Road
Building 3, Suite 304
Princeton, NJ 08540
ATTN:

If you have questions, please contact:
Ms. Xxxx
Phone: 866-xxx-xxxx (toll free)
FAX: 202-863-1763
E-mail: [email protected]

This survey is authorized by law: The ARRA, Division A, Title VIII, Pub. L. 111–5 and Departments of
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010,
Division D, Title III, Pub. L. 111–117.
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 xxxx-xxxx. The time required to complete this
information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per respondent, including the time to review instructions, gather the data needed,
and complete and review the information collected. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or
suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202. If you have comments or
concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of
Education Sciences, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20208.

A.

YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

A1. What is the title of your current position at this school? Mark only one.

 Principal
2
 Assistant or vice principal
3
 Other (Specify): _____________________________
1

A2.

A3.

A4.

Including this school year, how many years have you served in an
administrative position at THIS school? ........................................................

|__|__|

Including this school year, how many years have you worked in THIS
school district? If you work in a charter school, write NA. ..............................

|__|__|

How satisfied are you with each of the following aspects of your school this year?
VERY
DIS S ATIS FIED

Mark one box in each row.

A5.

S ATIS FIED

VERY
S ATIS FIED

a. Opportunities to enhance my skills ............

1



2



3



4



b. Opportunities to earn extra pay ..................

1



2



3



4



c.

Intellectual challenge ..................................

1



2



3



4



d. Feedback on my performance ...................

1



2



3



4



e. Recognition of accomplishments ...............

1



2



3



4



f.

Quality of interaction with colleagues .........

1



2



3



4



g. Colleagues’ efforts .....................................

1



2



3



4



h. Colleagues’ contribution to student
learning.......................................................

1



2



3



4



i.

Morale in the school ...................................

1



2



3



4



j.

Other (Specify): _____________________

1



2



3



4



What is the highest level of education you have completed? Mark only one.



3

4

A6.

DIS S ATIS FIED

1

Bachelor’s degree

2

Master’s degree
Doctoral degree (Ph. D., Ed. D.)
Other (Specify): ____________________________________

What is your year of birth?

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

| 1 | 9 |

|

|

2

A7.

Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin?

 Yes
0
 No
1

A8.

What is your race? Mark one or more.


2

3

4

5

1

A9.

White
Black or African American
Asian
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
American Indian or Alaska Native

Are you male or female?
1
2

 Male
 Female

B.

HOW YOU FILLED TEACHING VACANCIES LAST YEAR

B1.

Which of the following statements best describes your role in hiring teachers for this school?
Mark one box only.
I have complete autonomy over teacher hiring .........................................

1

I am part of a school-level team responsible for teacher hiring ................

2




I receive a set of prescreened candidates from the district office as the
pool from which I (and a team) can interview and hire teachers ........

3



School administrators have little or no input into the teachers who are
hired at this school ..............................................................................

4

Other (Specify): ________________________________ .......................
B2.

B3.


5 

In filling teacher vacancies for the 2011-2012 school year, when did you FIRST begin
interviewing potential teachers? Mark one box only.
0



December 2010 or earlier

6



June 2011

1



January 2011

7



July 2011

2



February 2011

8



August 2011

3



March 2011

9



September 2011 or later

4



April 2011

10



Don’t know

5



May 2011

11



No vacancies to fill

Go to B5

During which period did you conduct the MOST interviews with potential hires?
Write the number 0 - 10 (from the list in B2 above) that corresponds to that period.
|

|

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

3

B4.

Please provide the information requested below for the 2011-2012 school year.
NUMBER

a. Total number of classroom teacher vacancies .............................. |__|__|
b. Number of applications you reviewed for the position(s) ............... |__|__|
c. Number of applicants you interviewed ........................................... |__|__|
d. Number of offers you made ........................................................... |__|__|
e. Number of offers that were accepted ............................................. |__|__|
B5.

How frequently do you use the following factors about your school as incentives or benefits
when recruiting or interviewing teachers for your school?
Mark one box in each row.

B6.

NEVER

RARELY

S OMETIMES

OFTEN

ALWAYS

a. Salary ........................................................

1



2



3



4



5



b. Opportunities to earn performancebased pay ..................................................

1



2



3



4



5



c.

Opportunities for career advancement ......

1



2



3



4



5



d. Opportunities for professional
development ..............................................

1



2



3



4



5



e. The level of teacher involvement in
school decision making .............................

1



2



3



4



5



f.

Collegiality of teaching staff ......................

1



2



3



4



5



g. The school culture and/or educational
philosophy .................................................

1



2



3



4



5



h. The school’s reputation .............................

1



2



3



4



5



i.

The school’s location or neighborhood .....

1



2



3



4



5



j.

The level of student achievement at the
school ........................................................

1



2



3



4



5



k.

[Program Name] ......................................

1



2



3



4



5



l.

Other 1 (Specify): ________________ .....

1



2



3



4



5



m. Other 2 (Specify): ________________ .....

1



2



3



4



5



Of the factors that you indicated you used “always” in Question B5, please indicate, in order
of importance, the THREE that you feel are the most compelling reasons for teachers to
accept a position in your school.
a. Most important factor ................ _____
b. Second most important ............ _____
c. Third most important ................ _____

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

4

B7. Of the applicants who DID NOT ACCEPT your offer of a teaching position, do you think any of
the factors listed in Question B5 contributed to that decision?
1

 Yes. In the space below, use the list in Question B5 above to write those that apply, or write
any other factor(s) not on the list.
a. Factor one ...................................... ______
b. Factor two ........................................ ______
c. Factor three ..................................... ______
d. Other (Specify): _____________ .... ______

B8.

0

 No factors apply; personal circumstances unrelated to school or position

2

 Don’t know

3

 Not applicable

How frequently do you use the following criteria when assigning teachers to grade levels or
subject areas?
Mark one box in each row.

NEVER

S OMETIMES

OFTEN

ALWAYS

a. The teacher’s experience in a grade level or
subject area ...........................................................

1



2



3



4



5



b. The teacher’s seniority ..........................................

1



2



3



4



5



c.

1



2



3



4



5



1



2



3



4



5



1



2



3



4



5



To balance teacher experience and expertise in
a grade level or subject .........................................

1



2



3



4



5



g. Other (Specify): _______________________ .....

1



2



3



4



5



The teacher’s content knowledge .........................

d. The teacher’s ability to produce high test scores
in grades/classes in which state or federal
assessments are administered .............................
e. The teacher’s ability to work with certain
student populations (e.g.,ESL, special needs)......
f.

B9.

RARELY

From the list of criteria above, please list the top three criteria you use when assigning
teachers to tested grade levels or subject areas (grades/subject areas annually assessed by
district and/or state achievement testing).
a. criterion #1

____

b. criterion #2

____

c. criterion #3

____

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

5

C.

TEACHER EVALUATION AT YOUR SCHOOL
Note: For the following questions, please consider only instances of formal observations
conducted in your classroom. Formal observations are standardized by using a rubric or checklist
and are usually given at regular intervals. (Informal observations do not use a standardized rubric or
checklist and are not conducted on any set schedule.)
For the questions in this section, please think about all of the policies and programs in effect
at your school, and not just [Program Name].

C1.

Are formal classroom observations being conducted or planned to evaluate teacher
performance in your school?
1
0

C2.




Yes
No

Go to Question C6.

For each type of school staff listed below, mark Yes or No to indicate if someone in that
position conducts formal classroom observations to evaluate teacher performance. If a listed
position is not relevant to your school, mark ’not applicable’.
YES

a. Principal................................................................

1



0



9



b. Other administrator (e.g., assistant or vice
principal, department head) .................................

1



0



9



c.

Mentor, master, or lead teacher at your school ...

1



0



9



d. Mentor, master, or lead teacher from a different
school ...................................................................

1


e. Content specialist ................................................. 1 
f. Other (Specify): ___________________ ........... 1 
C3.

NOT
AP P LICABLE

Mark one box in each row.

NO


0 
0 
0


9 
9 
9

How often are formal observations conducted for classroom teachers during the school
year?
A classroom teacher is typically observed _____________ times during the school year.

C4.

Do teachers have the opportunity to review the instrument or rubric so that they can be
informed about the criteria on which they are being assessed?
1
0

C5.

 Yes
 No

Is each teacher shown his or her ratings after the classroom observation?
1
0

 Yes
 No

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

6

C6.

Is student achievement used to evaluate teacher performance in your school?
1
0

C7.

 Yes
 No

Go to Question C8.

What student-achievement indicators are used to evaluate teacher performance?
Mark Yes or No in each row.
a.

YES

NO

Student achievement level (e.g., average scores, proficiency rates, or
Adequate Yearly Progress – AYP) ...................................................

1



0



Student achievement growth (value-added, average gains) at the
school level .......................................................................................

1



0



Student achievement growth in certain student groups (e.g., grade
level, team, subject, etc.) .................................................................

1



0



d.

Student achievement growth in teachers individual classes ..........

1



0



e.

Other (Specify): ________________________________ ..............

1



0



b.
c.

C8.

Are any of the additional factors listed below used to evaluate teachers’ performance in
your school?
Mark Yes or No in each row.

YES

a.

Teacher attendance .........................................................................

1



0



b.

Teacher participation in school activities .........................................

1



0



c.

Principal’s or other administrator’s professional judgment...............

1



0



d.

Reviews from other teachers ...........................................................

1



0



e.

Student attendance ..........................................................................

1



0



f.

Parent or student input .....................................................................

1



0



g.

Other 1 (Specify): _____________________________ ................

1



0



h.

Other 2 (Specify): _____________________________ ................

1



0



TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

7

NO

D.

TEACHER COMPENSATION IN YOUR SCHOOL

NOTE: For the questions in this section, please think about all of the policies and programs in
effect at your school, and not just [Program Name].
D1.

Are teachers in your school eligible for additional pay (beyond their base salary)?


0

1

D2.

Yes
No

Go to Question D4.

For which of the following factors are teachers at your school eligible to receive this
additional pay? For each Yes answer, indicate the additional dollar amount or percent of salary that
any teacher at your school could receive if she/he earned the maximum amount possible.
(A)
ELIGIBLE FOR
ADDITIONAL
P AY?

a. Teaching in a hard-to-staff school (e.g.,
schools serving large proportions of
economically disadvantaged or lowperforming students)..........................................

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

e. Job performance, as measured by student
achievement growth and/or classroom
observations ......................................................

1

 Yes

0

 No

f. Assuming additional roles and responsibilities
beyond those of classroom teacher ..................

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

b. Teaching high-need subjects (e.g., math,
science, or special education) ...........................

c. Attending professional development activities
or enrolling in graduate-level courses ...............

d. An automatic bonus for participating in
[Program Name] ..............................................

(B )

(C )

MAXIMUM
AMOUNT

OR

$________

OR

$________

OR

MAXIMUM %
OF S ALARY

_______%

_______%

$________

OR

_______%

$________

OR

_______%

$________

$________

OR

OR

_______%

_______%

g. Other (Specify): _________________________

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

8

$________

OR

_______%

D3. For which of the following roles or responsibilities are teachers at your school eligible to earn
additional pay?
For each Yes answer, indicate the additional dollar amount or percent of salary that any teacher at
your school could receive if she/he earned the maximum amount possible.

(A)
ELIGIBLE FOR
ADDITIONAL
P AY?
1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

1

 Yes

0

 No

a. Mentor teacher ..................................................

(B )

(C )

MAXIMUM
AMOUNT

OR

$________

OR

MAXIMUM %
OF S ALARY

_______%

b. Master or lead teacher.......................................

c. Department chair or head ..................................

d. Lead curriculum specialist ................................

e. Serving on a school-wide committee or task
force ...................................................................
f. Serving on a leadership team in some
capacity (Specify): _________________ ...........

$________

OR

_______%

$________

OR

_______%

$________

OR

_______%

$________

$________

OR

OR

_______%

_______%

g. Other (Specify): _________________________

D4.

$________

OR

_______%

Are teachers in your school eligible for non-monetary benefits in recognition of their
performance or added responsibilities?


0

1

Yes
No

Skip to Section E.

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

9

D5.

Which of the following non-monetary benefits are available to teachers?
Mark Yes or No in each row.

NO

a.

Release from classroom teaching for mentoring or other
leadership activities ..........................................................................

1



0



b.

Decision making authority on issues such as hiring staff or
adopting curriculum ..........................................................................

1



0



Priority in teaching assignments (e.g., grade level or subject
area) .................................................................................................

1

c.

E.

YES

d.

Priority in student assignment ..........................................................

e.

Other (Specify): ______________________________ ................


1
1


0
0
0

PRINCIPAL EVALUATION AND COMPENSATION AT YOUR SCHOOL

NOTE: For the questions in this section, please think about all of the policies and programs in effect at
your school, and not just [Program Name].
E1.

Is the performance of the principal in your school evaluated?
1
0

E2.




Yes
No

Skip to Section F.

Are the following measures used to assess principal performance?
Mark one box in each row.
a. Student achievement level (e.g., average scores, proficiency
rates, or Adequate Yearly Progress – AYP) .....................................
b.
c.

YES

DON’T
KNOW

1



0



9



Student achievement growth (e.g., value-added, average gains)
at the school level .............................................................................

1



0



9



Student achievement grown in certain student groups (e.g.,
grade level, team, subject, etc.) .......................................................

1

d.

Teacher assessments ......................................................................

e.

Parent input ......................................................................................

f.

Other 1 (Specify): ______________________________ ................


1
1
1

g.

Other 2 (Specify): ______________________________ ................

1

E3.

NO




0
0
0
0

0




9
9
9
9

9



Is the principal at your school eligible for additional pay (beyond his or her base salary)?
1

 Yes

0

 No

Skip to Section F.

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

10

E4.

For which of the following factors are you eligible to receive additional pay? For each Yes
answer, indicate (A) the maximum dollar amount possible that you could earn, and (B) the amount
you expect to earn.
E LIGIBLE ?
YES

1



0



$_______

$_______

b. Additional roles or responsibilities in the school
or district ..................................................................

1



0



$_______

$_______

1



0



$_______

$_______

1



0



$_______

$_______

1



0



$_______

$_______

1



0



$_______

$_______

Attending professional development activities or
enrolling in graduate-level courses .........................
d. An automatic bonus for participating in [Program
Name] .....................................................................
e. Job performance, as measured by student
achievement growth and/or formal observations ....
f.

F.

Job performance, measured by something other
than student achievement or direct observation
(Specify): ____________________________ .......

THE [Program Name]

F1.

F3.

B . AMOUNT
EXP ECTED

a. Working in a hard-to-staff school (e.g., schools
serving large proportions of economicallydisadvantaged or low-performing students) ............

c.

F2.

NO

A. MAXIMUM
AMOUNT
P OS S IBLE

Were teachers in your school given the opportunity to vote on your school’s participation in
[Program Name]?
1

 Yes

0

 No

Skip to Question F5

When was the vote held? Mark only one.
1



December 2010 or earlier

6



May 2011

2



January 2011

7



June 2011

3



February 2011

8



July 2011

4



March 2011

9



August 2011

5



April 2011

10



September 2011 or later

Approximately what percentage of the teachers in your school voted in favor of your school
participating in [Program Name]? Your best estimate is fine.
_______ PERCENT

F4.

Approximately what percentage of the teachers who participated in that vote are still
working in your school? Your best estimate is fine.
_______ PERCENT

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

11

F5.

F6.

F7.

Has [Program Name] affected your choice of where to work as a school administrator?
1

 Yes

Go to Question F6

0

 No

Go to Question F7

How has [Program Name] affected your choice of where to work as a school administrator?
Mark only one.
1

 I stayed at my school because of [Program Name]

2



I came to my school to get into [Program Name]

Tell us about the professional development activities in which teachers at your school
participated between July 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. These activities include courses they
may have taken for recertification or advanced certification, workshops sponsored by your school or
district, conferences, or any other training that is relevant to their teaching at your school.
For each topic listed, indicate the following:
A: Was the topic the focus of professional development (PD) in which teachers
participated?
B: If yes, approximately what percentage of teachers at your school received PD in the
topic?
C: In general, to what extent do you feel the PD was beneficial to the participants?
A. FOCUS OF PD?

In each row, mark one box in Column
A. If Yes, complete columns B and C.

a Understanding components of
[Program Name] ..........................
b. Understanding performance
measure used as part of
[Program Name] ..........................
c. Direct feedback based upon
individual performance ratings
as measured by [Program Name ..
d. Differentiated instructional
strategies based on student
assessments .................................
e. Instructional techniques and
strategies ......................................
f. Aligning curricula to state or
district standards ...........................

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

YES

NO

B. PERCENT
OF
TEACHERS

C. PERCEIVED BENEFIT OF THE PD
NOT AT
ALL

S LIGHTLY

S OME WHAT

HIGHLY

1



0



|

|

|

1



2



3



4



1



0



|

|

|

1



2



3



4



1



0



|

|

|

1



2



3



4



1



0



|

|

|

1



2



3



4



1



0



|

|

|

1



2



3



4



1



0



|

|

|

1



2



3



4



12

F8.

Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement about
[Program Name] in your school.

Mark one box in each row.

S TRONGLY
DIS AGREE

DIS AGREE

AGREE

S TRONGLY
AGREE

a. [Program Name] has been clearly communicated
to me........................................................................

1



2



3



4



b. This school has less chance of earning a bonus
because of the characteristics of our student
population ................................................................

1



2



3



4



1



2



3



4



1



2



3



4



1



2



3



4



Parents and the school community believe
[Program Name] is important .................................

1



2



3



4



g. [Program Name] is likely to continue for the
foreseeable future ...................................................

1



2



3



4



h. I played an important role in implementing
[Program Name] at my school ..............................

1



2



3



4



c.

The evaluation system omits important aspects of
school administration that should be considered ....
d. [Program Name] contributes to greater
collegiality and professionalism among the staff
in this school ............................................................
e. Teachers at this school are more comfortable
with frequent formal observations of their
teaching because of [Program Name] ...................
f.

F9.

If you have any additional thoughts you would like to share about [Program Name], please
use the space below.

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

13

G.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Please provide your contact information below. We will use it to reach you in case we need
to clarify any of your responses. We will also use the address to mail your check for
completing the questionnaire.
Providing this information is voluntary.

Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Street address: ____________________________________________________________
City: __________________________

State: _______

Zip Code: ___________

Home telephone: _____________________________
Cell phone: __________________________________
Work email: _______________________________________________________________
Home email: ______________________________________________________________
Best time to reach you by phone (day and time): _______________________________

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE.

TIF – Spring 2012 Principal Survey

14