Students, parents and teachers might soon be asked to share their thoughts about the quality of their schools.
HB149, which the House passed 70-1 on Monday, would create a pilot program in which parents, teachers and students at up to 5 percent of schools in the state would be given surveys to take anonymously. Parents would be asked about the quality of their children's teachers, schools, school administrators and their own participation. Students would evaluate their teachers and school administrators. Teachers would evaluate their schools and school administrators.
School districts would use the data to better serve students and parents; monitor schools' progress; and could use it as part of educator evaluations to make decisions about employment and training, according to the bill.
Bill sponsor Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, said in a few years lawmakers can decide whether to expand to the program statewide. He said the surveys will "give all involved in public education a voice and a choice." Survey results for individual teachers would not be publicly released.
The bill now moves to the Senate.