Questionnaire

Questionnaire

The National Parent Teacher Association (1990) has developed the following questionnaire to determine if families feel welcome in a school:

"HOW WELCOME ARE PARENTS IN OUR SCHOOL?

Directions: Think about the experiences you have had when you have visited your child's school. Your PTA and the school staff want to make parents feel comfortable and a part of the school.

Please take a few minutes to fill out the following brief survey. Be honest. All answers will be anonymous--please don't write your name on the sheet. Your PTA leader will collect the surveys.

After the PTA has analyzed the results, a committee composed of PTA leaders and other parents, the principal, and teacher representatives will decide how best to use the information and make recommendations, if necessary, for helping parents feel more welcome in our school.

Am I always greeted in a friendly, courteous way when I contact the school either on the phone or in person?

Does the school have a reception area for visitors that is equipped with information about the school and directions so that I can find my way around the building?

Did the school conduct some kind of orientation program for my family when I first enrolled my child?

Do school staff and parents have informal occasions when we can get to know each other during the school year?

Does the principal have regular office hours when parents and students can stop in?

If 'yes' to the above question, are those hours convenient for me?

Is there a school suggestion box where teachers', students', and parents' ideas are encouraged, and are ideas implemented when possible?

Does the school encourage me to visit my child's classroom outside of planned occasions (after checking first with the teacher involved)?

Am I and other parents welcome to use the building after school hours for community purposes?

Does the principal ask for parents' suggestions when making decisions that will affect the running of the school?

Are limited-English-speaking parents given opportunities to understand the curriculum and participate in the school's activities?

Does the school provide written information to parents about school rules, parent-teacher conferences, and other important items?

Feel free to write any comments and suggestions here:

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Courtesy of the National Parent Teacher Association.

References