Increasing Survey Response Rates for SPPAPR Indicator B8 Parent Involvement

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Increasing Survey Response Rates for SPP/APR
Indicator B8 Parent Involvement
Scott Beever and Gwendolyn Williams Illinois
State Board of Education OSEP Overlapping IDEA
Part B and Part C Data Meetings June 22-25
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Illinois Current Survey Process

• ISBE sends out 60,000 paper surveys to a
  representative sample of students with
  disabilities across the state with regard to
  race/ethnicity, age, primary disability and
  gender.
• Survey window runs from March to May annually.
• Surveys are sent in both English and Spanish.

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Response Rate Trends for Illinois

• From 2006 to 2008, the response rate has ranged
  from approximately 10 to 17.
• Approximately 93 of surveys are completed in
  English while approximately 7 of the surveys are
  completed in Spanish.

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Current Methods to Increase Response Rates

• Cover Letter and Survey both in English and
  Spanish
• Lengthening timeframe between survey
  dissemination and required return dates.
• Personally contacting parents whom left comments
  on their surveys.
• ISTAC Parent Call Center for technical assistance.

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What is in the Future?

• Expand the marketing for the ISTAC Parent Call
  Center.
• Provide training to the ISTAC Parent Call Center
  staff to be better equipped to answer questions
  from parents whom are completing the survey.
• Using information from previous years to develop
  a FAQ to post on the Call Center Website.

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Benefits

• Increased collaboration between parents and
  school district staff in implementing special
  education services to students.
• Data driven decision making for districts during
  IEP meetings as well as implementation of the
  IEP.
• Encouraging some districts to further conduct
  parent needs assessment surveys to gauge parental
  participation and satisfaction with their childs
  education.