1. MEMORANDUM
    2. TO: District Superintendents
    3. Selected School Principals
    4. FROM: Frances Haithcock, Ph.D.
    5. DATE: May 19, 2008
    6. SUBJECT: PARENT SURVEY ADDRESSING THE STATE PERFORMANCE PLAN TO BE MAILED TO PARENTS IN MAY 2008
    7. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states are required to collect information annually from parents. This information is used to determine the extent to which schools are supporting parent involvement in their child’s education. Florida Department of Education (FDOE) annually collects information by inviting a large sample of parents of children receiving special education services to complete a survey. The survey may be completed either in paper form or online. In 2007, over 170,000 survey forms were mailed to parents throughout the state.
    8. In May 2008, FDOE will be mailing a survey to parents of children with disabilities receiving special education services. Attached is a flyer to assist you in notifying parents about the survey. The greater the number of parents who respond to the survey, the more accurate the reported district-level results. We are encouraging you to help get the word out.
    9. The statewide survey used in Florida was designed by a national center funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Items on the survey describe characteristics of teachers, administrators, and schools that facilitate parent involvement in their child’s education. Examples of items include statements such as, “Teachers are available to speak with me,” “I am considered an equal partner with teachers and other professionals in planning my child’s program,” “The school communicates regularly with me regarding my child’s progress on individual educational plan goals,” “The school explains what options parents have if they disagree with a decision of the school,” and “The school offers parents training about special education issues.” Parents are asked to indicate how much they agree or disagree with each statement.
    10. Parent Survey Memorandum
    11. May 19, 2008
    12. Page Two
    13. Parent responses to the survey are analyzed in a way that yields a “school’s effort” score for each completed survey. A low score indicates that the parent does not believe that the school promotes involvement in their child’s education. A high score indicates that the parent believes the school is doing a good job of facilitating involvement.
    14. Florida has set a very high standard for what schools should be doing to facilitate parent involvement. In order for schools to meet the standard, parents must express strong agreement with many of the survey statements. In 2007, 30 percent of the “school’s effort” scores, based on responses from over 16,000 parents, met the Florida standard. The margin of error for these results is +/-1.5 percent.
    15. This year, in addition to the statewide parent survey effort, three districts (Broward, Martin, and St. Lucie) will be piloting efforts to increase parent responses. We will share results in fall 2008.
    16. You may access information on Indicator 8 and results of previous years’ surveys online at www.fldoe.org/ese. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Kathy Burton, Program Specialist, at (850) 245-0478 or by e-mail at Kathy.Burton@fldoe.org.
    17. FH/BJL/kbs
 
DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
S
  
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
 
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM
  
 
TO:
District Superintendents
 
Selected School Principals
 
FROM:
Frances Haithcock, Ph.D.
 
DATE:
May 19, 2008
 
 
SUBJECT: PARENT SURVEY ADDRESSING THE STATE PERFORMANCE PLAN
 
TO BE MAILED TO PARENTS IN MAY 2008
 
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states are required to collect information
annually from parents. This information is used to determine the extent to which schools are supporting
parent involvement in their child’s education. Florida Department of Education (FDOE) annually collects
information by inviting a large sample of parents of children receiving special education services to
complete a survey. The survey may be completed either in paper form or online. In 2007, over 170,000
survey forms were mailed to parents throughout the state.
 
In May 2008, FDOE will be mailing a survey to parents of children with disabilities receiving special
education services. Attached is a flyer to assist you in notifying parents about the survey. The greater the
number of parents who respond to the survey, the more accurate the reported district-level results. We are
encouraging you to help get the word out.
 
The statewide survey used in Florida was designed by a national center funded by the U.S. Office of
Special Education Programs (OSEP). Items on the survey describe characteristics of teachers,
administrators, and schools that facilitate parent involvement in their child’s education. Examples of
items include statements such as, “Teachers are available to speak with me,” “I am considered an equal
partner with teachers and other professionals in planning my child’s program,” “The school
communicates regularly with me regarding my child’s progress on individual educational plan goals,”
“The school explains what options parents have if they disagree with a decision of the school,” and “The
school offers parents training about special education issues.” Parents are asked to indicate how much
they agree or disagree with each statement.
 
 
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
Contact Information:
Name:
Kathy Burton
Phone:
(850) 245-0478
E-mail:
Kathy.Burton@fldoe.org
K12: 2008 - 63
 
Parent Survey Memorandum
arent responses to the survey are analyzed in a way that yields a “school’s effort” score for each
doing
lorida has set a very high standard for what schools should be doing to facilitate parent involvement. In
his year, in addition to the statewide parent survey effort, three districts (Broward, Martin, and St.
ou may access information on Indicator 8 and results of previous years’ surveys online at
May 19, 2008
Page Two
 
 
P
completed survey. A low score indicates that the parent does not believe that the school promotes
involvement in their child’s education. A high score indicates that the parent believes the school is
a good job of facilitating involvement.
 
F
order for schools to meet the standard, parents must express strong agreement with many of the survey
statements. In 2007, 30 percent of the “school’s effort” scores, based on responses from over 16,000
parents, met the Florida standard. The margin of error for these results is +/-1.5 percent.
 
T
Lucie) will be piloting efforts to increase parent responses. We will share results in fall 2008.
 
Y
www.fldoe.org/ese. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Kathy Burton, Progra
at (850) 245-0478 or by e-mail at
m Specialist,
Kathy.Burton@fldoe.org.
 
FH/BJL/kbs
 
 

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