Taylorville Schools will once again take part in the Illinois State Board of Education’s statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey, giving students, teachers, and parents a chance to share feedback on school climate and learning conditions.
Beginning February 3, students and teachers will be invited to complete the research-based survey, which takes about 30 minutes to finish. A parent survey supplement will also be available during the same survey window. District officials say the survey helps schools identify strengths, address challenges, and measure progress since the last statewide survey.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey evaluates five key areas shown to be critical to school success: effective leadership, collaborative teachers, involved families, a supportive environment, and ambitious instruction.
According to more than 30 years of research conducted by the University of Chicago, schools that score strongly in at least three of the five areas are significantly more likely to see improvements in student reading and math performance. Strong results have also been linked to higher teacher retention, better attendance, increased graduation rates, and higher college enrollment.
Participation in a school learning conditions survey is required annually for all Illinois school districts under the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan. Taylorville Schools have consistently participated in the 5Essentials Survey and will continue using it this year to track progress and guide improvement efforts.
Principals and superintendents are expected to receive their individual school reports in May. Results will be made public on the UChicago Impact reporting website in June and on the Illinois State School Report Card later this fall. Parent survey results will be included only in individual school reports.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered statewide by UChicago Impact on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education and is completed online. More information is available at 5-essentials.org/illinois.
