Frequently asked Questions

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The PSA is a non-profit initiative dedicated to improving elementary education through crowdsourced surveys and analysis. We leverage the power of collective insights from parents and teachers, providing an objective and actionable overview of the state of elementary education across the country - from the local level up. 

Our mission is to create a free, community-driven platform that fosters active parental involvement, transparency, and open dialogue about our children's education. 

We seek to encourage effective collaboration between parents, teachers, schools, and educational content providers, and to empower parents and teachers with insights into classroom performance and content. 

We strive to uphold objectivity and neutrality, ensuring that our platform serves as a trustworthy resource for all users. 

Above all, we are committed to inspiring improvements in elementary school education and facilitating a future where every child has access to high-quality learning experiences.

It is free to participate and start submitting surveys.  All you need to do is submit the Sign Up Form which we use to validate your future submissions. Then complete a short 2 minute  Survey Form for each of your child's elementary school teachers, and then twice a year in June and December we publish the latest annual survey results.

Unlike other platforms, the PSA does not have any commercial advertising  or promotional relationships that could influence our focus or findings, and does not try to establish a single rating. We  are solely focused on collecting data to improve schools and support  parents, schools, and teachers. Our mission is centered around transparency, equity, and fostering collaboration within the education  community.  We strive to provide an unbiased and community-driven platform.

By supporting PSA you'll be able to contribute your insights and observations about your child's educational experience. You'll help to create a more transparent and accountable educational environment and can learn from the experiences of other parents in different schools. And at least a couple of times a year, your responses will help us publish the PSA Classroom Progress Report and the PSA Teacher Empowerment Scorecard.

The development of the Parent and Teacher Surveys and the subsequent analysis and publication of simulated results is grounded in a robust, evidence-based methodology designed to ensure validity, reliability, and relevance to the mission of the PSA. This approach is anchored on four key principles: 

1. Comprehensive Research: The formulation of the survey questions began with an extensive review of existing literature and studies on education. This ensured that the questions are not only current but also scientifically sound. It also guided the determination of key areas of interest such as school satisfaction, educational resources, and curriculum assessment.
2. Statistical Rigor: The simulated results were produced based on a careful interpretation of previous survey data and an understanding of statistical principles. This includes acknowledging the role of sample size in generating accurate estimates, and employing techniques such as stratified sampling to minimize bias.
3. Context Relevance: Recognizing the diversity in education systems and practices across states, the surveys were designed to be adaptable to different contexts. By asking school-specific questions, the survey can capture local variations in educational experiences, making the findings more relevant and actionable to specific communities.
4. User-Centric Design: To encourage maximum participation, the surveys were designed to be as intuitive and straightforward as possible. Care was taken to ensure that questions were clear, unbiased, and unambiguous. The use of predominantly multiple-choice questions also aided in simplifying the process, reducing the time taken to complete the survey and easing the data analysis process.

The simulated PSA Classroom Progress Report and PSA Teacher Empowerment Scorecard serve a dual purpose. First, they demonstrate the type of insights that can be generated from the surveys, thereby illustrating the value of participating in the survey. Second, they provide an initial estimate of the distribution of responses, a baseline, enabling stakeholders to anticipate potential trends and challenges in the education landscape. As new responses are gathered, these initial estimates will be updated to reflect the latest data.

While the simulated results are not a prediction, they act as a powerful call-to-action for parents and teachers to see how their schools and teachers compare to the national averages. They show that every individual's perspective matters in painting an accurate and real-time portrait of the state of education. By participating in the survey, they are not just expressing their views, but actively contributing to a broader understanding of the education system, informing decisions and policies that could improve educational outcomes for all students.

The PSA methodology is a more comprehensive, transparent, and community-driven alternative to traditional school rating systems. For example:

1. Holistic Approach: The PSA's rating system considers a broader range of factors beyond test scores. It takes into account parent and teacher feedback, curriculum fit, student engagement, and communication between schools and parents, providing a more comprehensive assessment of school quality.
2. Focus on Transparency and Collaboration: The PSA encourages transparency by openly sharing the survey results and progress reports, allowing parents, teachers, and schools to collaborate in improving education. It fosters a two-way dialogue, empowering parents and educators to work together for the benefit of students.
3. Commitment to Equity and Inclusion: The PSA is dedicated to promoting equity and reducing educational disparities. By collecting data from diverse communities and ensuring representation across different school types and regions, the PSA aims to provide a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of school performance.
4. Independent and Non-Profit Status: As an independent nonprofit organization, the PSA's mission is solely focused on improving education and supporting parents, schools, and teachers. It does not have financial ties to real estate or related types of advertising, minimizing potential conflicts of interest.

The Parent School Alliance, by successfully engaging a significant portion of elementary school parents and teachers, and continually refreshing its survey base, will create an incredibly rich and dynamic data set. We will publish this data at the classroom level for each school provided at least 10% of a class's parents participate, at the school level if 10% of its classes have had enough responses, and at the school district and state levels if at least 10% of the schools can be included.  As for the Teacher Surveys, it will also be published at the classroom level if we have surveys from at least 10% of parents, and will also be aggregated and reported at the other levels using the same 10% rule. These reporting guidelines are in place to help assure we have a statistically significant data set to work with.

This neutral, unbiased, and locally focused data will not only be used to publish a variety of the PSA Classroom Progress Reports and PSA Teacher Empowerment Scorecards, but it will also be of significant value to various stakeholders in the education ecosystem:

1. Academia: Researchers in education could use this data to identify trends and correlations between parental involvement, demographics, and school performance. They could conduct longitudinal studies on the effects of various educational strategies or policies. These insights could inform academic literature and theories on child development, education policy, and more.

2. Government: Policymakers could leverage this data to make informed decisions about resource allocation, education reform, and policy design. By having access to real-time feedback from parents, they can adjust policies to address the current needs of the community. This data could also help in identifying disparities among schools and drive equitable policy making.

3. School Districts: The feedback could help schools and districts to understand what is working well and where improvements are needed, from a parent's perspective. They can make data-driven decisions for curriculum development, teacher training, and parent engagement strategies.

4. Private Sector: EdTech companies could use the data to tailor their products to meet the needs of schools and parents. Publishers could understand what kind of content parents feel is lacking in their children's education and develop materials to fill those gaps. Companies in the broader education sector could also leverage the data for market research and product development.

5. Non-profits and Foundations: Organizations that aim to improve education can better target their resources and efforts by understanding the needs and concerns of parents across different demographics.

In addition to these, the bi-annual surveys can serve as a progress tracker, monitoring how perceptions and school performance metrics change over time. As an ongoing, real-time source of data, the Alliance can be a game-changer in the world of education policy and research !!

Yes, the PSA takes data privacy seriously. Your personal details will only be used for verification purposes and will not be disclosed to any third parties.  For more details see Privacy Policy below.

Every user of the PSA has to verify that they are a parent/guardian of a student in the classroom they are reviewing, or a teacher in the school they are rating. Additionally, all reviews and publications are subject to moderation by our Content Review Council. 

Schools and teachers may initially have reservations about supporting or participating for several reasons:

1. Concern about Negative Feedback: Schools and teachers may fear receiving negative feedback publicly, which could potentially harm their reputation.

2. Time and Resource Constraints: Participation requires time and resources, which are often already stretched thin in educational settings.

3. Data Misinterpretation: There may be concerns that parents, lacking professional expertise in education, could misinterpret or oversimplify complex data.

4. Privacy Concerns: Schools might be worried about the privacy of their staff and students.

5. Lack of Control: Schools and teachers might be worried about the lack of control over the content and discussions happening on the platform.

However, the Alliance has been structured to help mitigate these concerns:

1. Positive Outcomes from Feedback: The platform provides an opportunity for schools and teachers to receive direct, constructive feedback. Positive comments highlight strengths, while negative comments can identify areas for improvement. Both contribute to a better learning environment.

2. Community Engagement: The PSA can actually save time and resources in the long run by streamlining communication with parents and providing valuable insights into parent perspectives.

3. Guided Interpretation: The PSA could provide guidelines, resources, or training to help parents interpret and understand the data. Additionally, open dialogue between parents and educators can further clarify any confusion.

4. Strict Privacy Measures: PSA would ensure that all data and discussions are handled with strict adherence to privacy laws and regulations. User identity verification and content moderation policies are in place to protect both staff and students.

5. Participation Equals Control: By participating, schools and teachers can actively contribute to the discussions, correct misconceptions, and have a voice in shaping their public perception. Schools can offer rebuttals and teachers can offer clarifications, thus increasing transparency and mutual understanding.

Participating in PSA surveys provides an opportunity to receive direct and very cost-effective feedback from parents, which over time is important for continuous improvement. It also demonstrates your commitment to transparency, accountability, and parental engagement. It is easy to support our efforts by agreeing to the "School Collaboration Agreement" defined below. 

As a supporter of the Parent School Alliance (PSA), [School Name] agrees to the following collaborative conditions:

1. Validation of Parent Reviews: We will confirm if a Parent submitting a survey to PSA has a child in the named Teacher's class - just a simple yes or no based on a list the PSA provides is all that is required. We understand we will not receive any information contained in the individual surveys, nor be required to disclose sensitive or privacy related information. 
2. Curriculum and Educational Material Information: We will provide or validate publicly available information regarding the development and maintenance of our curriculum, as well as the names of our educational material publishers and vendors.
3. Cooperation in Survey Distribution: We will assist in getting the word out about the surveys to parents in a manner that we deem appropriate, ensuring that they are informed about the opportunity to participate in the PSA Classroom Progress Report survey.
4. Use of PSA Electronic Badge: To the extent we are allowed, we will proudly display the PSA logo on our website and in communications to indicate our support for the PSA and its mission.
5. Biannual Updates: We will provide or validate updated information about our curriculum, vendors, and teachers at least twice a year, enabling the PSA to maintain the most cost effective, accurate and up-to-date data.
6. Pre-Publication Review: As a supporter, we will have the opportunity to review our Classroom Progress Report and Teacher Empowerment Scorecard before they are published. This will allow the School to provide feedback or clarify any potential inaccuracies, and also to prepare responses or outreach if the report is particularly favorable or highlights areas of improvement.

Together, we aim to foster a nonintrusive and mutually beneficial relationship that promotes parent engagement and transparency in education.  Signed by designated representatives.

If you are interested in signing-up please let us know.

The PSA has several measures in place to ensure data accuracy. We use a stringent verification process for survey responses and utilize timestamping to prevent data duplication. Our questions are based on extensive research and are crafted to garner meaningful, actionable responses.

The PSA is committed to promoting a respectful and constructive dialogue. We have a content moderation policy that prohibits disrespectful or inappropriate comments. Schools and teachers have the right to respond to reviews and can report any comments that they believe violate our guidelines. 

If a review is believed to be inaccurate or unfair, it can be flagged for review by our Content Review Council. This group, composed of volunteers from the PSA community, will assess the content and take appropriate action.

The PSA is funded through donations from benefactors, including philanthropic organizations and individuals. Our independence and non-profit status ensure we can maintain a neutral position, focused on the common goal of improving education.

There are two primary ways to contribute. Firstly, by participating in our surveys - we value insights from parents and teachers alike. Secondly, you can contribute as a benefactor, funding our operations and enabling us to carry out our mission.

Benefactors are organizations, most commonly educational content vendors, but also other non-profit organizations and foundations. with similar missions or interests.  Together they are  interested in financially supporting the PSA's mission of improving transparency and parental involvement in elementary schools. They believe in our cause and contribute funds to help maintain our free services. 

No. The PSA remains neutral and does not endorse any products or services, including those of our Benefactors. Our platform provides unbiased, parent and teacher driven reviews and discussions about school programs and materials.  We do not allow any direct marketing or promotions from our Benefactors on our platform.  And, benefactors do not have control over any content on the PSA platform. They cannot edit, delete, or in any way influence the discussions, reviews, or other user-generated content. 

Benefactors receive no commercial benefits or data rights in return for their contributions or support. 

However, they gain the satisfaction of supporting an initiative dedicated to improving elementary education nationwide. They will also receive regular updates on our progress and the impact of their contributions.  In addition, if they want to be, they will be acknowledged for their support on our Benefactors page and are given an electronic badge for their own use in promoting our efforts. They also can gain access to aggregate data and trends from our platform, which are fully anonymized and do not contain any personally identifiable information. Future grants or support could be used to add questions to our surveys or research.

Remember, if you have any concerns or questions about our Benefactor relationships, or User and Privacy Policies we're here to provide answers. Our primary commitment is to you, the parents, guardians and educators who make our mission possible.

Our goal at Parent School Alliance is to foster an inclusive, respectful, and constructive dialogue that contributes to the betterment of our children's education. To ensure this, we have implemented the following content moderation policy:

1. Moderation Guidelines:

All content shared on our platform must:

• Be respectful and courteous.
• Stay on topic, relating to education, teaching, or parenting issues.
• Avoid personal attacks or insults.
• Refrain from posting offensive, hateful, or discriminatory content.
• Not disclose personal or confidential information.
• Not promote any commercial services or products.

2. Moderation Team:

The moderation team will consist of a panel of 10 to 15 members, ensuring diverse representation. This panel will ensure that all content on our platform adheres to the policy guidelines.

3. Volunteering or Nominations for the Moderation Team:

Members interested in joining the moderation team can volunteer or be nominated by others. Volunteers need to express their interest through a written application, outlining their reasons for wanting to join and any relevant experience. Nominations should be submitted in the same way, providing reasons why the nominee would be a good fit for the role. The final decision will be made by the Parent School Alliance's board.

4. Repeated Violations and Removal:

Members who repeatedly violate the content guidelines will face the following consequences:

• First Violation: The offending content will be removed, and the member will receive a warning.
• Second Violation: The offending content will be removed, and the member will be temporarily suspended from the platform.
• Third Violation: The offending content will be removed, and the member will be permanently banned from the platform.

We believe that everyone should feel safe and welcome when participating in discussions on our platform. We encourage all members to report any violations of these guidelines to the moderation team. With your help, we can maintain a positive and productive environment for everyone involved in the Parent School Alliance.

1. Acceptance of Terms:

By accessing, using, or contributing to the Parent School Alliance website (the "Website"), you agree to abide by this User Agreement ("Agreement"). If you do not agree to these terms, please do not access or use this Website.

2. User Obligations:

As a user, you agree not to:

• Use the web site or its content to violate any laws or regulations.
• Post content that is defamatory, offensive, harmful, or otherwise inappropriate.
• Use the Website for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose.
• Violate the privacy of others or infringe on their intellectual property rights.

3. User-Generated Content:

Users retain all ownership rights to the content they post. However, by posting content, you grant the Parent School Alliance a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, or distribute your content.

4. Limitation of Liability:

The Parent School Alliance is not responsible for any user-generated content or its use. We do not guarantee the accuracy, quality, or integrity of any user content.

1. Information We Collect:

We collect information you provide when you register, complete a survey, post content, or communicate with us.

2. Use of Information:

We use your information to manage your surveys, provide services, improve our Website, and communicate with you.

3. Sharing of Information:

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

4. Security:

We implement a variety of security measures to help keep your information secure. However, the Parent School Alliance cannot guarantee that unauthorized third parties will never be able to defeat our security measures.

5. Changes to Our Privacy Policy:

If we change our privacy policies and procedures, we will post those changes on this page.

6. Benefactors and Privacy

Personal Information: Our organization is committed to protecting the privacy of our members. A Benefactors sponsorship or support does not grant our Benefactors access to any personally identifiable information of our members unless explicitly agreed upon by the member.

Aggregate Data: While sponsors may receive aggregate data and trends, this information will be anonymized and will not include any personally identifiable information.