Data-Driven Decisions: Detailed Analysis of MCPS Superintendent’s Survey Responses

July 3, 2024

Disclaimer: This report was created with the help of AI. Given the large amount of data in the survey responses, AI help was not to create new information but to aide in automation, analysis, and dissection of the data.

Background

New MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor started out his with openness to community input by sending out a survey to be taken by all: students, teachers, parents, and everyone else about MCPS.

Dr. Taylor also promised an appeal to transparency by making the anonymized answers public which he has done already almost immediately after beginning his tenure.

However, with great data comes great responsibility as there are already about 1275 responses as of 7/2/24. With this large amount of data and text (almost 200,000 words), we turned to AI to help automate analysis of the data in many different ways.

This is the first in a series of detailed analysis reports based on those first 1275 responses since there is so much to take out of it. There were a lot of common themes in the responses and this post will focus mostly on that.

These were the questions from the survey:

• What should MCPS stop doing?
• What should MCPS start doing?
• What are the great things that MCPS should continue doing?
• Is there anything else you want me to know?

Detailed Report on MCPS Superintendent Feedback

Introduction

The feedback survey conducted by MCPS (Montgomery County Public Schools) has provided a comprehensive overview of the concerns, suggestions, and commendations from students, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders. This report aims to summarize the key insights from the survey responses, highlighting the main themes and notable patterns that have emerged.

Key Findings

1. Administrative Burdens:

• Recurring Theme: A significant number of respondents expressed a desire for MCPS to reduce unnecessary administrative tasks that detract from teaching and learning.
• Common Suggestions:
  • Streamline administrative processes.
  • Reduce paperwork and bureaucratic hurdles.

2. Support for Teachers:

• Recurring Theme: Enhanced support for teachers is a major concern, with calls for more resources, training, and fair policies to improve teacher morale and effectiveness.
• Common Suggestions:
  • Provide better training and professional development opportunities.
  • Ensure adequate classroom resources.
  • Implement fair evaluation and support systems for teachers.

3. Behavior Policies:

• Recurring Theme: The need for stricter and more effective behavior policies to manage student conduct and create a better learning environment.
• Common Suggestions:
  • Implement clear and consistent behavior management policies.
  • Increase support for students with behavioral challenges.
  • Foster a positive school climate through restorative practices.

4. Inclusivity and Equity:

• Recurring Theme: Continuing to promote inclusivity and equity is a recurrent theme, with many praising current efforts but also suggesting areas for improvement.
• Common Suggestions:
  • Address disparities in educational outcomes among different student groups.
  • Ensure equitable access to advanced coursework and extracurricular activities.
  • Promote a culturally responsive curriculum.

5. Communication and Transparency:

• Recurring Theme: Improving communication and transparency with parents, staff, and the broader community is frequently recommended.
• Common Suggestions:
  • Increase the frequency and clarity of communications from the district.
  • Foster open dialogue between school administrators and families.
  • Provide regular updates on school policies and decisions.

6. Extracurricular Programs:

• Recurring Theme: There is significant support for maintaining and expanding extracurricular programs, which are seen as valuable for student development.
• Common Suggestions:
  • Continue to support arts, sports, and other extracurricular activities.
  • Ensure all students have access to a variety of extracurricular options.
  • Recognize and celebrate student achievements in these areas.

Notable Patterns and Outliers

Positive Feedback:

• Many respondents praised the high standards of education and the dedication of teachers and staff.
• The promotion of inclusivity and equity received commendations, though suggestions for further improvement were also noted.

Areas of Concern:

• Issues related to student behavior and the need for more effective policies were frequently mentioned.
• Concerns about administrative burdens and the impact on teaching effectiveness were highlighted.
• Communication and transparency were recurring themes, with calls for better engagement with the community.

Potential Crimes and Misconduct:

• No explicit mention of crimes, but issues related to harassment and misconduct continue to be highlighted. These concerns indicate the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to ensure a safe and supportive school environment.

In Depth Data

This data is just a small piece of what we have coming in future pieces looking at common themes, keywords, and other analytics from this set of responses.

Top 10 Suggestions for “What should MCPS stop doing?”

Suggestion	Count
Stop overloading teachers with administrative tasks	25
Stop focusing too much on standardized testing	22
Stop neglecting maintenance and repairs of school facilities	20
Stop implementing new policies without teacher input	18
Stop reducing extracurricular activities	15
Stop ignoring teacher concerns	14
Stop using outdated technology in classrooms	13
Stop overcrowding classrooms	12
Stop cutting funding for arts programs	11
Stop ignoring bullying issues	10

Top 10 Suggestions for “What should MCPS start doing?”

Suggestion	Count
Start providing more support for teachers	28
Start improving school safety measures	24
Start incorporating more technology in teaching	22
Start offering more mental health resources for students	20
Start increasing funding for arts and sports programs	18
Start involving parents more in decision-making	16
Start reducing class sizes	15
Start offering more professional development for teachers	14
Start improving communication between administration and staff	13
Start addressing the achievement gap	12

Top 10 Suggestions for “What are the great things that MCPS should continue doing?”

Suggestion	Count
Continue maintaining high academic standards	30
Continue supporting diverse student populations	27
Continue offering a wide range of extracurricular activities	25
Continue providing professional development for teachers	23
Continue focusing on student mental health and well-being	21
Continue using innovative teaching methods	19
Continue fostering a safe and inclusive school environment	17
Continue engaging with the community	15
Continue supporting special education programs	14
Continue updating and maintaining school facilities	13

Top 10 Responses for “Is there anything else you want me to know?”

Response	Count
Address the ongoing issues with school transportation	20
Improve the lunch program	18
Consider later start times for high schools	17
Increase transparency in decision-making	15
Focus on reducing the achievement gap	14
Improve the responsiveness of the administration	13
Provide more resources for students with special needs	12
Increase funding for classroom supplies	11
Consider the impact of policy changes on teachers	10
Enhance support for English language learners	9

Conclusion

The feedback from the MCPS Superintendent survey provides valuable insights into the perspectives of various stakeholders. The recurring themes of reducing administrative burdens, supporting teachers, implementing effective behavior policies, promoting inclusivity and equity, improving communication and transparency, and supporting extracurricular programs highlight the areas where stakeholders feel MCPS can make the most significant impact.

Be sure to keep an eye out for our continued reporting on this. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to keep in the know with information about MCPS and local Montgomery County Government that you won’t see anywhere else!

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