2016 Quaglia Institute School Voice Report is First to Present Data from Survey of Teachers, Students and Parents

PORTLAND, Maine, Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of the annual School Voice Report were released today by the Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations (QISVA) in partnership with Corwin Press, revealing a number of intriguing insights about how students, parents and teachers perceive their school environment.  More comprehensive than previous reports, this year's School Voice Report for the first time contains data from the pertinent perspectives of teachers, students, and parents. The Quaglia School Voice Surveys are designed to measure the 8 Conditions That Make a Difference, a QISVA framework helping educators ensure the work they are already doing fosters an environment characterized by positive relationships, engaged learning, and sense of purpose. These online surveys take less than 15 minutes to complete and provide survey administrators with real-time reports.

During the 2015-2016 academic year, 48,185 students in grades 6-12 and 12,157 students in grades 3-5 took the Quaglia School Voice Student Survey.  The surveys were administered in 249 schools in 14 states: Arizona, California, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Wyoming. The Quaglia School Voice Teacher Survey was also administered to 4,021 teachers of various grade levels in 13 states, all those represented by the student survey, excluding Arizona.

Among the Report's key findings:

• 82% of teachers say they actively seek out student opinions and ideas while only 47% of students feel teachers are willing to learn from them
• 49% of all students enjoy being at school
• 57% of students agree that "School inspires me to learn"
• Only 57% of teachers believe that meaningful professional development exists in their district
• Only 64% of teachers agree that their school is a dynamic and creative learning environment
• 19% of teachers do not affirm that they enjoy working at school
• 53% of students and 79% of teachers are proud of their school
• 58% of students feel like teachers respect students while 99% of teachers feel like they respect students

In addition, 2,287 parents completed the Quaglia Parent Voice Survey. Preliminary data from the parent surveys points to several trends. More than one-fifth (22%) of parents agree with the statement, "My child has difficulty fitting in at school," while students express they have difficulty being accepted and being liked. For example, on the student survey given to grades 3-5, only 46% agree "Other students like me," and in grades 6-12, 68% of students agree with the statement, "I feel accepted for who I am at school."

"Over the course of more than three decades of working with students and educators, we have learned the value of listening to their voices," said Dr. Russell Quaglia, President and Founder of QISVA, an organization dedicated to studying, promoting, and putting into practice the conditions that foster student aspirations in schools and learning communities around the world. "If this report does not compel you to initiate dialogue about transforming your school environment, then we have fallen short of our mission."

In partnership with Corwin Press, a full-service professional learning organization, the Quaglia Institute offers a variety of survey instruments to begin or enhance a school's active listening process. By utilizing Quaglia School Voice Survey Reports, teams of educators and students can work together to develop shared objectives and inspire meaningful improvements within their schools. The School Voice Report aims to encourage national discussions about fostering an effective learning environment grounded in mutual respect among teachers, administrators, students and parents.

"The 2016 School Voice Report provides critical insights into the educational climate of our nation's schools," said Mike Soules, President of Corwin.  "The Report's findings can help administrators work with parents, teachers, and students to create supportive learning environments that students feel a part of. Corwin is proud to offer a number of resources that support educators as they work to ensure their students are prepared for college, careers, and life."

QISVA is guided by the belief that students are the potential, not the problem, in today's educational system and is driven by the importance of student and teacher voice and a conviction that both groups have something to teach us. QISVA's work is based on over 30 years of research in the field of voice and aspirations which shows that students and teachers who believe in themselves, are actively engaged in their teaching and learning, and feel a sense of purpose in school are more likely to develop high aspirations. QISVA brings its mission and research to life in schools through leadership training for students, staff, administrators and parents, surveys and focus groups. Led by Dr. Russ Quaglia, its mission extends into the larger educational community through publications, speaking engagements, state and national policy work, and online learning.

Corwin, a SAGE company, was established in 1990, first as a professional book publisher, now as a full-service professional learning company, offering professional development solutions on the topics that matter most and the delivery methods that work best to achieve a school or district's objectives. Its many resources range from a library of 4,000+ books to on-site consulting to online courses and libraries. At the heart of every professional learning experience are the book content and author expertise that have made Corwin the most trusted name in professional development.

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SOURCE Corwin