Date: 04/15/2010
Final
TELL Survey Results
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
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01:36 PM -- TELL Survey Results
Representative Merrifield, the chair, called the committee to order, explaining that the committee will hear two presentations today, but not consider legislation. Eric Hirsch, representing the New Teacher Center, and Lisa Medler, representing the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), introduced themselves to the committee. Ms. Medler provided background on the TELL survey, noting the survey was required as part of House Bill 08-1384 and that there was a large number of stakeholder groups involved in the development and implementation of the survey.
01:42 PM
Mr. Hirsch explained that the TELL Colorado survey results are available online (www.tellcolorado.org) and provided two handouts to the committee: the Executive Summary and Recommendations (Attachment A) and a copy of his powerpoint presentation (Attachment B). He encouraged the committee members to view school results in their districts. He further noted that the results for schools are available to the public. He reviewed with the committee the type of data available on the TELL Colorado website.
01:47 PM
Mr. Hirsch next discussed the findings of the survey. He noted that the survey found that educators are generally positive about teaching in Colorado. He highlighted that the greatest area of concern for teachers is time for planning and collaboration. He also stated that only half of the educators in Colorado agree that there is an effective process for solving problems. Mr. Hirsch explained that the survey included only school-based licensed educators (teachers and principals). The survey found that only one-third of educators reported that professional development is differentiated for individual teacher needs. He stated that this result is likely reflective of teachers reporting that they have little input in selecting and developing these opportunities.
01:51 PM
Mr. Hirsch shared that the survey found that community engagement and student learning conditions influence performance. Representative Massey asked if parental involvement is included in this measure. Mr. Hirsch responded that the survey was anonymous, so the answers to these questions were framed as how teachers feel generally about parental involvement. Discussion on the topic of parental involvement ensued between Representative Massey and Mr. Hirsch.
01:55 PM
Representative Solano asked if there is data available for schools with lowest performance on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) and free- and reduced-lunch eligibility. Mr. Hirsch responded that he examined the results, controlling for poverty, language background, teacher and school characteristics, and found statistically significant connections between community engagement and student learning. Representative Benefield asked for clarification on interpreting the data presented on community engagement and student learning conditions.
01:59 PM
Mr. Hirsch also discussed that the survey found that teaching conditions influence employment plans. He specifically noted that while salary is necessary, it is not sufficient in capturing what they need and want in order to determine where they will work, and that student learning and school leadership are the most important conditions in teachers' plans to remain in their current position. Representative Merrifield asked Mr. Hirsch to define student learning. Mr. Hirsch defined student learning as: a belief that every child can learn; students come to school ready to learn; availability and timeliness of assessment data; and the data is used to inform instruction.
02:04 PM
Mr. Hirsch discussed the differences between teachers who stay at a school and those who choose to relocate to another school, specifically explaining that school leadership matters in a teacher's decision to stay, even when the data is controlled for poverty. He also noted that teachers' and principals' perceptions vary on teaching conditions. Representative Benfield asked if there is a way to see on a school-by-school basis how the perceptions match up.
02:13 PM
Mr. Hirsch reviewed the findings around new teacher support, specifically noting that one out of five new teachers reported that they were not assigned a mentor, and that of those assigned a mentor, about one-third never received support from their mentor in analyzing student work, reviewing student assessments, or developing lesson plans. Representative Solano asked if it was possible that this occurred because of the lack of time to plan and collaborate. Mr. Hirsch responded that her assumption was fair and reasonable.
02:15 PM
Mr. Hirsch reviewed the findings from principals regarding support from the school district. Representative Solano asked what constitutes administrative duties. Mr. Hirsch responded that was not explored in this survey, but that a second iteration of the survey will be conducted in Denver Public Schools (DPS) through funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that would look at more specific information. Representative Solano stated that it is important for principals to spend more time with teachers. Representative Benefield asked if all 178 school districts are included in the survey and if there was a lack of access in certain parts of the state because of technology barriers. Mr. Hirsch responded that technology was not a barrier, but rather time, concern whether the survey is anonymous, and what value will be garnered from the data were the largest barriers to participation.
02:22 PM
Representative Solano asked Mr. Hirsch to define principal support. Mr. Hirsch responded it looked at factors such as: support from central administration, sufficient licensed staff. Mr. Hirsch concluded his presentation by reviewing the recommendations based on the survey results:
- create systematic opportunities for teachers to grow professionally and participate in decisions that impact their schools and classrooms;
- ensure that every new teacher is inducted into the profession and receives more frequent support to improve instruction;
- help school leadership establish positive teaching and learning conditions in every school;
- support schools in understanding and improving teaching conditions;
- support schools in engaging the broader community in efforts to understand and improve teaching conditions; and
- use TELL Colorado and other mechanisms to collect educators' views on teaching and learning conditions to inform local and state human capital decisions.
02:28 PM
Representative Summers asked if there are any surveys of parents' perceptions of community support, teachers, and principals. Mr. Hirsch responded that teaching conditions data will be collected from students in the DPS project and instructional video will be captured of classroom learning.