Teaching, Leading, Learning Survey

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 42
POLICY CODE: DDA

TO: Superintendents of Schools
To be shared with principals and all teaching staff
FROM: Susan Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: November 5, 2007
RE: Teaching, Leading, Learning Survey

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to be collaborating with the New Teacher Center at the University of Santa Cruz, the Maine Education Association and the National Education Association in an electronic survey on teaching and learning conditions in order to gain information about whether critical conditions for student learning are in place from those who are the most knowledgeable about them – practicing educators.

All teachers, principals, and certified licensed school-based personnel will be encouraged to participate in this confidential 20-minute electronic survey about basic teaching and learning conditions in their building. The Teaching, Leading, Learning survey (TeLL) is a unique opportunity to better understand and make data-driven decisions about creating school environments that will help improve student achievement at the school, district, and state levels.

TeLL is slated to be online between November 26 and December 21 and is designed to be anonymous and confidential. Principals and teachers will receive a personal security code in the mail from the New Teacher Center which will enable them to go online and provide their opinions on the issues of time, empowerment, leadership, facilities/resources, professional development, and mentoring/induction programs.

Survey results will be shared with participating schools and districts, provided that at least 40% of staff complete the survey. Aggregate data will be used to assess statewide teaching-learning conditions and shape policy decisions that will enhance student achievement.

Based upon more than 250,000 responses in seven (7) states, the New Teacher Center has correlated data to support these principles:

Teaching, leading and learning conditions are significantly connected to student achievement.
Teaching, leading and learning conditions make a difference in teacher retention.
Leadership is critical to improved teaching-learning conditions but leaders and teachers do not always view their school similarly.

Please encourage your principals and teachers to participate in this survey and embrace this opportunity to add their voices to our collaborative efforts to improve student achievement and make Maine a model of high quality public education. For more information please contact Ellen Holmes at ellen.holmes@maine.gov or 624-6879.