In 1991, the Consortium began to regularly survey all Chicago public school principals, teachers, and students to learn their views on and experiences in our public schools. In the spring of 2005, nearly 130,000 students, teachers, and principals across the system participated in the Improving Chicago's Schools survey. The next survey will be administered in spring of 2007.

Our surveys ask about learning climate, student-teacher relationships, leadership, and quality of the school's instructional program. They also ask about the school's professional environment, and the nature of the school's relationships with parents and the community. Most recently we have added survey questions that inquire about juniors' and seniors' preparation for life after high school.

Data from these surveys are used in many ways. One of the most important is the school-specific, confidential reports that are prepared for every school in which a minimum response rate was achieved. Additionally, teacher, principal, and student reports supplement the Consortium's analyses of student test scores and other performance indicators to provide a comprehensive picture of the condition of Chicago public schools. Along with extensive field work and other research, surveys help identify the classroom practices and school organizational characteristics that most effectively improve student engagement and learning.