Today marks the start of the fifth North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey (TWC). All licensed educators in North Carolina have an opportunity to complete the survey and share their thoughts about working conditions in their schools through April 16. As a teacher, I have taken past TWC Surveys and have seen the positive impact of this anonymous survey on my school and district. Results of the TWC Survey have led to research that shaped state policy changes for educators to include: instructional planning time for all teachers, duty free lunch periods, and stronger principal and school leadership evaluations. This work has changed the way we do business in public schools every day.
Since 2002, the Governor’s Office, NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission, North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) have supported the Teacher Working Conditions Survey. The 2010 TWC sponsors are AT&T, BB&T, Duke Energy, Golden Corral, and the NC Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Sponsorships provide the educator tool kit, weekly cash prizes for educators and school grants of $500 and final educator and school grant grand prizes of $1,000.
Anyone is able to track live response rates for your school district and individual schools. Visit www.NCTeachingConditions.org to view the survey questions and track progress of survey responses. Licensed educators who do not have an access code to complete their survey should see their NCAE Representative or Teacher Leader can contact the help desk at 877-628-9208. Final survey results will be available for schools and districts on May 1, 2010 at 9 a.m.
By completing this survey educators are able to help make working conditions better, which in turn increases student learning conditions and overall student achievement. By June 30, research will be complete, and publications will be available. We will know the impact of each of the factors: Time, Facilities and Resources, Community Support and Involvement, Managing Student Conduct, Instructional Practices and Support, Teacher Leadership, School Leadership, and Professional Development.
Thank you to every educator who will take the time to complete this survey and for every community member who encourages educators to complete the survey.