CHARLESTON, W.Va. _ The West Virginia Board of Education and the state Department of Education have extended the deadline for teachers to respond to West Virginia’s Vision for Improving Teaching and Learning (WV VITAL), an online survey of teachers on teaching and learning conditions and climates in their schools. Teachers can now anonymously share their opinions until March 24.

Teachers have been asked to take about 20 minutes to respond to the confidential, web-based survey. Survey data will address the conditions and climates of schools as they impact and support effective leadership, encourage teacher retention and promote student learning needed for the 21st century.

Already, nearly 25 schools statewide have had 100 percent of their teachers respond to the survey. At least one school in Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Fayette, Hancock, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, Marion, Mason, Mercer, Mingo, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh and Wayne counties have hit the 100 percent mark. Overall, Clay County has the best district-wide response rate with nearly 68 percent of teachers responding to the survey.

“This survey provides us with a unique opportunity to gather information about school climate from those whose perceptions matter most -- practicing educators,” said state Board of Education Member Lowell Johnson, who is heading up the project. “This data will prove to be invaluable as we make decisions about school improvement.”

A toll-free help desk is available to answer questions weekdays between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 1-866-588-4342. Participants will remain anonymous but results will be shared with schools, school districts and the state Department of Education. Preliminary data should be available about a month after the survey closes. Final reports will follow in approximately three months. 

The West Virginia Board of Education and 15 members of its Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey Stakeholders Group are working with the New Teacher Center at the University of California at Santa Cruz to conduct the survey.

WV VITAL stakeholders include the 21^st Century Jobs Council; West Virginia-American Federation of Teachers; Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston schools; Edvantia; Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts; Regional Education Service Agencies; West Virginia Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals; West Virginia Association of School Administrators; West Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals; West Virginia Board of Education; West Virginia Department of Education; West Virginia Education Association; West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission; West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities; West Virginia Professional Educators; and West Virginia School Boards Association.

For more information, contact Karen Larry, executive assistant to the state superintendent at (304) 558-2118, or the Office of Communications at (304) 558-2699. The survey Web site can be viewed at http://www.westvirginiavital.org .

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