USD 232 BrightBytes® Whole Child Survey Q&A

• Students in grades 3-12 take the survey.
• Surveys are grade banded in the following sequence: 3-4, 5-8, 9-12. The context is the same; questions are worded age-appropriately.
• Surveys are specific to each building, so staff can use data for individual and MTSS needs.
• The survey is approximately 15 minutes in length for students to take.  Survey proctors may read surveys as needed for students, and may define words if students need assistance.

What is the purpose of this survey?     The Kansas State Board of Education requires school districts to measure social-emotional growth of students. It is one of five outcomes to be measured in Kansas. As such, USD 232 works to meet accreditation as part of Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA).   As shared by Kansas State Department of Education, we want to help students “develop nonacademic skills, such as teamwork, perseverance and critical thinking, so they can be more successful in their postsecondary pursuits.  Social-Emotional learning is the process through which students and adults acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, and establish and maintain positive relationships.”

Who is analyzes, views, and utilizes data?     Survey data is analyzed and reported to the district through BrightBytes®.  The school district will use data from the survey in multiple means. At the district level, data is reviewed and used by the District Improvement Team, District Site Council, and Building Leadership Teams.  It will be used as one of the determinate factors in setting district and building goals for the systems cycle.  Additionally, the data will provide meaningful information for the District Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) Committee, as well as provide baseline data for students’ perception of mindset, social abilities, and emotional growth over time.  The survey is used solely by schools and the district with the intent of school/district improvement. 

Why does the district believe it's necessary to survey in this manner, and what does the district hope to accomplish with this information?     In accordance with KESA, the district will administer perception surveys to multiple stakeholder groups, including students, staff, parents, and community members.  Each respective group will take the survey twice a year, and it will track longitudinal data.  Due to the expanded understanding and appreciation of school improvement, the state of Kansas has new focus on holistic student growth.  In addition to skill sets beyond academics, the goal is to attain trend data which shows improved student social and emotional development.