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Annual survey gathers community feedback on perceptions, reputation of district

95% agree that school is meeting most learning needs for their student(09/29/2023) The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is committed to collecting community feedback as an essential element to ensure schools are meeting the needs of the community. 

The district authorizes an annual scientifically valid survey of community members using the Morris Leatherman company, a leading Twin Cities-based firm to collect the data - which is considered accurate by plus or minus 4.5 percentage points in 95 of 100 cases:
 

  • Conducted by phone.

  • Contacted 500 randomly selected residents and 400 randomly selected parents in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

    • Women and men are equally represented.

    • Demographics are representative of the population of the community.

  • Participants are located in a variety of locations across school district boundaries.

Why it matters: The information gathered is used to monitor performance and guide decision making. Questions seek to understand the quality of education, support/job performance of teachers and administration, and community involvement. In total, the survey includes 107 questions, including many perception questions asked every year, which are monitored to identify trends or areas of concern.

  • Caring staff: 95% of parents think teachers and staff care about their children and that their child’s school is safe.

  • Educational opportunities: 91% like the wide range of programs and opportunities for students.

  • Providing support: 90% say all or most of their child’s learning needs are met.

  • Reputation: 87% rated the quality of education provided as good or excellent, up five percentage points from 2022. 

  • Trust in leadership: 87% trust the School Board to do what’s right by the children and do a good job involving the community and citizens in decisions about schools.

  • Fiscal responsibility: 82% think the school district has spent tax dollars effectively and efficiently.

  • Strongest ratings: Community members say the top benefits in the district include good programs/broad curriculum, high-quality education and good teachers.

The district commits to an annual survey as one tool in a system of continuous improvement for the school district. Visit ahschools.us/schoolboard to view the full presentation and report.