Student Surveys - Student feedback is valuable for improving our schools.

Student feedback is valuable in improving our schools. Cache County School District has administered student surveys previously to gather student input about their school experience. A new state requirement this year requires parents to provide prior written consent before students may participate in surveys (53E-9-203). The district plans to administer three surveys to students (grades 3rd - 12th only) during February and March of the 2024-25 school year to provide the district with essential student feedback to inform our programs and services.

 

Here is some information regarding what kind of surveys we offer. Instructions about how a parent can opt-in for their student follow.

 

Survey Tool #1: Program Needs Assessment CTESurvey  (for middle and high school students)

 

What is the purpose of the Program Needs Assessment (CTESurvey)? The Program Needs Assessment is administered to students in middle and high school by the school counselors to gather student feedback about the comprehensive school counseling program. This includes collecting feedback from students about college and career readiness, opportunities to learn about careers in the school setting, and feedback about the student experience and student needs. Our middle and high schools are required by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to complete a formal program review survey every three years. The Survey is completed by students, parents, and school faculty. Results from the survey offer a data-informed direction for implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. School counselors use the feedback from students to identify and implement appropriate supports and intervention, demonstrate program effectiveness, and improve college and career readiness for each student.

 

Has the Program Needs Assessment been administered to students before? Yes. Each middle and high school counseling department has conducted this survey with students every third year for a required program review by the Utah State Board of Education. Previously, all students had an opportunity to complete this survey. Starting this year, only students with parent consent will be able to give feedback through the survey.

 

When will the Program Needs Assessment be administered? School counseling departments will administer the Program Needs Assessment between January 2nd and January 31st. For specific dates, please contact your school counseling department or school administrator.

 

How do students take the CTESurvey? The content of the Program Needs Assessment was created by the Utah State Board of Education. The survey is administered on a secure online platform called CTESurvey, which is provided to school counseling departments by the Utah State Board of Education through a contract with the CTESurvey for the purpose of conducting the state-required program review and needs assessment. The platform must meet strict confidentiality requirements.

 

Who will review the survey data? School counselors and administrators will review the feedback gathered from the Program Needs Assessment. Student responses are anonymous and do not contain personally identifiable information.

 

What questions will be asked on the Program Needs Assessment? Click here to review a complete copy of the CTESurvey tool. Note that the sample survey above will be the same for all middle and high schools. 

 


Survey Tool #2: SHARP Survey (for 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th grade students)

 

What is the purpose of the SHARP Survey?  The Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey was designed by a multi-agency collaborative, including the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.  It is given to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students. It is anonymous and asks questions about physical, social, and mental health; substance use; social connections; basic demographics; risky or harmful behaviors– and what protects kids from these things.

 

Has the SHARP been administered to students before? Yes, Cache County School District previously helped to facilitate the SHARP survey in the spring of odd-numbered years for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The SHARP survey has provided insight into things affecting our students for over 20 years. It helps parents know what to talk about with their kids, like vaping, alcohol, or other substance use. It also helps school administrators, teachers, parents, public health, and community leaders work together to help Utah students. 

 

When will the SHARP be administered? The SHARP survey will be administered February 17th - February 28th. For specific dates, please contact your student’s school administrator.

 

How do students take the SHARP? Students complete the SHARP survey using a secure platform provided to schools by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services through a contract with Bach Harrison LLC. The platform must meet strict confidentiality requirements.

 

Who will review the survey data?  All responses are anonymous and confidential. The SHARP survey does not collect any information that could identify a child or their family. Results are reported locally and shared with the school district, health department, and researchers. Results are also available to parents online at the following link: https://sumh.utah.gov/data-reports/sharp-survey/survey-reports/

 

What questions will be asked on the SHARP? The questions students answer depend on the grade they are in. Parents may preview the questions asked on the SHARP survey by visiting the following link. When previewing questions, please be sure to select the appropriate grade level. 

https://sumh.utah.gov/data-reports/sharp-survey/#survey-questions-and-privacy

 


Survey Tool #3: Student Well-Being & School Climate Survey (for students grades 3rd - 12th)

March 17th - March 28th

 

What is the purpose of the Student Well-Being & School Climate Survey?

The purpose of the school climate survey is to gather feedback from students about several aspects of their school experience that are important to a positive school climate.  The student survey was created by school counselors and administrators to help schools address student learning in skill areas such as self-management (How often do you come to class prepared?), self-efficacy (How sure are you that you can complete all the work that is assigned in your class?), classroom effort (How much effort do you put into class?) and sense of belonging (How connected do you feel to the adults at your school?).

 

Has the Student Well-Being & School Climate Survey been administered to students before?

Yes, Cache County School District has administered various school climate surveys to gather student feedback about their experiences in school. A similar school climate and student well-being survey was administered to students in grades 7th - 12th during the 2023-24 school year. This year, the survey will be administered to elementary students in grades 3rd - 6th, as well.

 

When will the Student Well-being & School Climate Survey be administered? 

The Student Well-being & School Climate survey will be administered March 17th - March 28th. For specific dates, please contact your student’s school administrator.

 

How do students take the Student Well-being & School Climate Survey? 

Students will complete the school climate and student well-being survey using a secure online platform called Panorama. Each student will log in using their own personal login. Panorama’s Privacy, Safety, and Trust page can be found here.

 

Who will review the survey data?  

The information collected in the survey is associated with each student but will only be shared with students’ teachers and school leaders to help improve the school experience for students and to identify students needing additional support.

 

What questions will be asked on the Student Well-being & School Climate Survey? The survey can be viewed online by clicking on the corresponding links below: 

Preview the 3rd - 5th survey here.

Preview the 6th - 12th survey here.

 


 

 

We encourage all parents/guardians to log in to your PowerSchool account to review the information about each survey and to provide permission for students to participate. Please follow the steps below to complete the opt-in form:

 

1. Log in to your PowerSchool parent account at https://powerschool.ccsdut.org/public/home.html. If you need help accessing your PowerSchool account, you can refer to the  PowerSchool Help for Parents page on our website.

 

 

2. Click on “Forms” in the left navigation menu and select the “2024-25 Parent Opt-In Form for Student Participation in Surveys.” 

 

 

3. Complete this form for each student by clicking on the student name at the top of the form window.