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The revamped 2024 Teacher Working Conditions Survey is open from March 1 to April 5. You can see live results by school and district here.
In a recently released video, state Superintendent Catherine Truitt says, “We know that every student’s path begins with a teacher. We also know that teacher working conditions directly impact student learning and this is why the primary focus of the survey is teacher voice.”
“Teacher voice matters! I encourage everyone to share your valuable insights in the teacher working conditions survey and contribute to shaping healthy and supportive educational environments and creating positive change for educators and students,” says Kimberly Jones, 2023 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Teacher of the Year.
In 2000, “North Carolina became the first state in the nation to study teacher working conditions by surveying those whose opinion matters most on these issues — teachers themselves,” says the new website for the survey.
What’s new and what to expect in 2024
On March 1, 2024, the survey website says educators will receive an email with a unique, anonymous link to the survey if they are eligible to participate.
Email reminders to non-respondents will be sent on March 6, 13, 20, 27, and 29.
All classroom teachers (certified and non-certified) and licensed school-based educators (e.g., school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, media coordinator, instructional coaches, etc.) in the state will be invited to participate.
Teacher assistants do not take the survey, and according to the website, school principals and assistant principals also should not take the survey because the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will pilot a new N.C. Principal Working Conditions Survey in 2024-25.
This year, the survey has been reduced from 199 to 100 questions, and it should take just about 20 minutes to complete.
On the website, you can see all of the opportunities for webinars, and office hours will be offered every Thursday in February and March from 4:00-5:00 p.m. The webinars are limited to 500 people but are being recorded and shared on website.
The target participation rate is 90%.
Here is a preview of the 2024 survey:
There will be one open-ended question for teachers that asks “Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the Teacher Working Conditions at this school?” Responses to this question will only be analyzed at the statewide level.
Here are resources for the 2024 survey, including a poster and the survey questions, and here are survey tips and dates to remember for school and district leaders and TWC coordinators.
DPI has contracted with Academic Development Institute (ADI) to administer the survey.
Here is the 2024 NC TWC Advisory Board.
How can educators be sure their responses are anonymous?
DPI has increased the minimum response rate to 50% to send data back to a school so results are less likely to be attributed to individual respondents. Live response rates for school and districts will be available on the website.
Additionally, responses from at least five educators will be required before data is shared.
DPI does not have any way to connect the email address of educators to responses, says the website.
What if an educator doesn’t receive an email?
Educators, mark your calendars for March 1. Once the survey is open, if you don’t receive an email, here’s what to do:
First check your junk mail or spam folder.
Next search your email for NCTWC@adi.org
Then check with your TWC school-level coordinator.
If necessary, click on “Need Help?” to reach out to survey support.
How quickly will results be available?
According to the website, the goal is to share preliminary results with schools 2-3 weeks after the survey closes.
In May 2024, the survey data will be released publicly at the monthly meeting of the N.C. State Board of Education.
Here is the data protocol that will guide school and district improvement teams as they use the survey data to address student achievement, classroom instruction, and professional learning.
“Participate in the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey! Your insights are the catalyst for continual improvement in our schools ensuring the best possible teaching and learning environments for all,” urges Donna Bledsoe, 2023 Wells Fargo NC Principal of the Year.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on March 1, March 5, and March 22, 2024.
