We conducted a survey in March 2013 to find out how schools and districts were affected by school closures and budget shortfalls. Learn more about this survey and find results from other surveys on our website at http://www.schoolimprovement.com/voices-of-education/school-closures-survey/

1. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETW ORK
March 2013
SCHOOL CLOSURES SURVEY

2. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
Methodology
•
Survey sent to educators on March 27, 2013
•
1,452 educators responded
–
61% (886) teachers
–
13% (188) administrators
–
Educators working in rural, urban, and suburban schools
–
Educators working in elementary, middle, and high schools
–
Educators with years of experience in education from 1 year to 21+
March 2013

3. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
Demographics
Years of Experience
Professional Position
Administrator
Teacher
Other
13%
61%
26%
School Type
Elementary (K-5)
Middle (6-8)
Secondary (9-12)
1st Year
2 to 5 Years
6 to 10 Years
11 to 15 Years
16 to 20 Years
21+ Years
1%
11%
18%
19%
17%
34%
School Environment
51%
20%
29%
Urban
Rural
Suburban
44%
27%
29%
Percent of Students
Classified as Title I
10% Title I
20% Title I
30% Title I
40% Title I
50% Title I
60% Title I
70% Title I
80% Title I
90% Title I
100% Title I
6%
5%
7%
4%
8%
8%
13%
13%
18%
15%

4. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
Key Findings
•
21% of educators state that school closures have affected their school
•
72% of educators believe school closures are an ineffective way to overcome
budget shortfalls
•
Around the country, 68% of schools are experiencing a budget shortfall
•
Educators suggest reducing after-school programs to make up for the budget
shortfalls rather than closing schools

5. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETW ORK
SURVEY RESULTS

6. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETW ORK
GENERAL INFORMATION

7. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
Only 21% of educators state that school closures have
affected their school during the previous school year,
while 1 in 3 educators’ districts have been affected.
Have recent school closures affected your
school/district?
100%
79%
66%
School
District
34%
21%
0%
Yes
No

8. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
Of the educators who said school closures have
affected their districts, 58% responded that the
closures impacted their school.
“If your district was affected, was your school?”
100%
58%
42%
0%
No
Yes
March 2013

9. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
72% of educators state that school closures are an
ineffective way to alleviate budget problems.
“Are school closures an effective solution to alleviate
budget shortfalls?”
100%
72%
28%
0%
Effective
Ineffective
March 2013

10. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
55% of educators currently reside in a district or system
that is facing a budget shortfall.
“Is your district or system facing a
budget shortfall?”
100%
“What possible solutions have been discussed to
make up the shortfall?”
Reduce School Staffing
18%
Increase Class Size
55%
45%
17%
Cut Classroom Supply Budgets or
Other Expenses
15%
Increase Teacher Workload
11%
School Closures
10%
Reduce After-School Programs
Reduce In-School Programs
No
8%
Implement Educator Pay Cuts
0%
8%
8%
Yes
Other
4%

11. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETW ORK
THE IMPACTS OF SCHOOL
CLOSURES

12. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
Only 5% of educators report ever working in a school
that was permanently closed.
“Have you ever worked at a school that
was permanently closed?”
100%
95%
5%
0%
No
Yes
Of schools that permanently
closed, 39% had more than 9
out of 10 students classified as
Title I.

13. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
44% of educators report teachers were given an opportunity to
provide feedback on the decision of whether or not to close the
school. 20% of administrators said teacher feedback had an
impact on the decision of whether of not to close the school, but
only 4% of teachers agreed.
"Were teachers given an opportunity to give
feedback or suggestions on the decision to
close the school?"
100%
"Did teacher feedback ultimately have an
impact on the closure?"
96%
100%
80%
64%
57%
36%
Administrator
Teacher
43%
20%
4%
0%
0%
Yes
No
Yes
No

14. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
16% of educators have worked at a school that
received students from a school that was closed.
“Have you ever worked at a school that
received additional students from another
school that closed?”
100%
84%
7 in 10 (70%) responded that the
additional students had a
negative impact on school
culture.
16%
0%
Yes
2 in 3 (67%) responded that this
created a negative impact on
student performance.
No

15. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETW ORK
PREVENTION OF SCHOOL
CLOSURES

16. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
Rather than closing schools, educators suggest
reducing after-school programs or classroom supply
budgets to alleviate budget shortfalls.
What can be done other than closing schools?
Reduce After-School Programs
22%
Cut Classroom Supply Budgets or Other Expenses
14%
Reduce In-School Programs
13%
Cut Administrator Positions/Salary
13%
Other
12%
Increase Class Size
10%
Reduce School Staffing
10%
Implement Educator Pay Cuts
3%
Increase Teacher Workload
3%

17. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013
2 in 3 educators would take a larger class size to keep
schools in their district from closing, and 3 in 4 said
they would if their own school were closing.
Would you be willing to take a larger class size to keep
schools in your school or district from closing?
100%
73%
68%
School
District
32%
27%
0%
No
Yes

18. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
March 2013