Teacher Letter

Page 0

[School Name]

[Date]

Dear <Teacher name>:

We are writing to invite you to complete the attached National Survey of Algebra Teachers for the National Mathematics Advisory Panel. This study is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and is being conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC). We have notified your district superintendent’s office about the study, and your principal has granted us permission to contact you with this request.

The National Mathematics Advisory Panel has designed this survey to obtain Algebra I teachers’ observations on student preparation, motivation, work habits, and skills as well as teacher insights on how mathematics is now taught, how earlier math education could be improved to better prepare children to succeed at algebra, and what would add value for mathematics teachers to enhance instruction. The information you provide will be helpful in guiding the Panel’s efforts to make recommendations to the President on how to improve mathematics education across the nation.

Information coming directly from teachers is crucial to improving our understanding of student preparation and mathematics education. We greatly value your input and hope you will complete the survey. Your participation is voluntary and no negative consequences will attend a decision not to participate. Responses to this data collection will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific district, school, or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your district to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law.

Please write your answers directly on the questionnaire, by circling or checking the appropriate response or by writing your answer in the space provided. Completing the survey should take approximately 25 minutes or less.

Once you have completed the survey, please return it in the enclosed pre-paid reply envelope addressed to the National Opinion Research Center. In appreciation of your consideration and help with this study, we have included a check for $20.

If you have any questions or would like more information about this study, please contact the research team at algebra@norc.org or by calling our study toll-free number at 1-800-XXX-XXXX.

Thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,

Tyrrell E. Flawn
Executive Director
National Math Panel
U.S. Department of Education

Tom Hoffer, Ph.D.

Project Director

NORC at the University of Chicago