Due to an error in the Chinese-language parent survey, new Chinese-language surveys were mailed home to families identified as having a home language of Chinese in ATS in early April. Surveys submitted in English, online, in District 75 schools, and in all other languages were
not affected by this error. Please review the information below for more detail.
What was the error on the Chinese language parent survey?
A line of response options was missing in question 8 of the Chinese-language parent paper survey. Parents may have used the response options from the previous question or declined to respond as a result of the omission.
What is the Department of Education doing to address this?
New Chinese-language paper surveys and return envelopes have been sent home to families identified as having a home language of Chinese, along with a letter translated in English and Chinese to explain the issue. These materials must be completed and mailed back by April 15.
How will feedback be counted?
- If a parent submitted a survey in English, online, or in any other language, they can disregard the new Chinese-language survey. Survey feedback was properly collected online and in all other languages.
- If a parent submitted a Chinese-language survey using the original survey with the error, their responses will be counted, excluding feedback from question 8. They may submit the new Chinese-language survey or re-take the survey online to ensure that all of their feedback is counted.
- If a parent submits multiple surveys using both the original Chinese-language survey with the error, and the new corrected Chinese-language survey, feedback from the corrected Chinese-language survey will be counted.
- If a parent has any issue receiving the new corrected Chinese-language survey, they should call 1-800-690-8603 to receive an access code to take the survey online at www.nycschoolsurvey.org.
Which schools are affected by this?
Schools that serve students identified as speaking a home language of Chinese in ATS received parent surveys in English and in Chinese.
- Parents at 734 schools did not receive any incorrect Chinese-language surveys and will not receive any new materials.
- Parents at 968 schools received Chinese-language surveys with the error and will receive new Chinese-language surveys in the mail.
What should schools do?
Schools that serve students from Chinese-speaking families should consider communicating with families about the error and the availability of new Chinese-language surveys. School should assure families that feedback submitted using the original Chinese-language paper survey will be counted, with the exception of question 8, and that feedback submitted using the corrected Chinese-language survey (or submitted online) will be counted in full.
What should parents do?
Parents that submitted surveys using the original Chinese-language paper survey should re-submit survey feedback using the new Chinese-language survey provided by mail. Parents that have not yet submitted survey feedback should use the new Chinese-language survey that will arrive in the mail. If a parent has any issue receiving the new corrected Chinese-language survey or is unsure about the feedback that they provided, they should call 1-800-690-8603 to receive an access code to take the survey online at www.nycschoolsurvey.org.