School Partnerships

The RISE Teaching Conditions Survey (TCS)

The RISE TCS is an instrument developed by the Center for Teaching Quality and is utilized by the New Teacher Center.  RISE has used this since 2007 to measure working conditions in RISE partner schools based on five key domains: Leadership, Empowerment, Professional Development, Facilities and Resources, and Use of Time.  RISE uses this survey for three important reasons:

1. Proven results - Research conducted using the TCS has shown verifiable correlations between high scores on the survey and higher rates of teacher retention and student learning.  
2. Comparative Data - The survey has been taken by 250,000 teachers nationwide, and RISE can access and compare RISE Partner School results with the national mean.  
3. Applicable Information  - Unlike many other school environment surveys, the TCS offers detailed questions that allow schools to understand teacher perceptions of the working environment in greater depth.  

Teaching Conditions Survey

• IF: 30-40% of teacher turnover is related to dissatisfaction with work environment.
• THEN: Provide an opportunity for schoolwide reflection on culture and support through annual Teaching Conditions Survey data.
• WHY? Because Teacher Working Conditions are Student Learning Conditions.

To drive improvement, school leaders need feedback on key aspects of the school environment from teachers who are working to maximize student achievement.

What’s in the Survey?
The survey examines five domains that have been shown to be highly correlated with teacher retention and asks teachers to indicate how much they agree or disagree with various statements within each domain:

• Leadership (Example: The school leadership communicates clear expectations to students, parents, faculty and staff.)
• Empowerment (Example: The faculty has an effective process for making group decisions and solving problems.)
• Professional Development (Example: Professional development provides teachers with the knowledge and skills most needed to teach effectively.)
• Facilities and Resources (Example: Teachers have adequate professional space to work productively.)
• Use of Time (Example: Teachers have time available to collaborate with their colleagues.)

View the survey as a pdf>>

 

RISE Partner Schools
In 2007, RISE launched the Teaching Conditions Survey at its partner schools in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Chicago. More than 50 schools participated and 637 teachers completed the survey, an 80% response rate. Over 90% reported they will use this data for school improvement.

2007 RISE Partner Schools Results compared to National Results




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* National Average refers to data from over 250,000 respondents on the Center for Teaching Quality in five states.