GOVERNOR RELEASES RESULTS OF ARIZONA EDUCATOR SURVEY

More than 5,200 Arizona educators participated in survey

- Governor Janet Napolitano today released the first phase of the Arizona Teacher Working Condition Survey results. Though preliminary analysis of the survey found that salary is a clear priority for educators, over all working conditions, effective leadership who make sustained efforts to address teacher concerns, and more preparation time and student time are also essential to keeping teachers in schools.

"This survey is a critical step in my goal to ensure Arizona educators are receiving the necessary tools to succeed and to create a thriving learning environment," Governor Napolitano said. "I am pleased with the overwhelming response and will keep the results in mind as I continue efforts to improve Arizona's education system."

The survey was administered by the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ), an organization committed to improving student learning through developing teacher leadership, conducting practical research and engaging communities. Similar surveys were conducted in other states including North Carolina, Ohio and Kansas.

More than 70 percent of teachers and administrators in 19 districts and schools completed the Arizona Teacher Working Condition Survey. Approximately 5,200 Arizona educators participated.

This is the highest response rate of any pilot with the CTQ Survey.

A full presentation of the data will be presented to the Governor and her Committee on Teacher Quality and Support in July 2006. Results will be correlated with student achievement and available in the fall following the release of school performance analysis by federal and state education agencies.

Plans are underway to conduct the survey statewide in 2007. More information regarding the survey and the preliminary results are available on the Arizona Teacher Working Conditions Survey Web site, www.aztwc.org.

http://azgovernor.gov/dms/upload/NR_052606_TeacherSurveyResults.pdf