PIRLS School Questionnaire

Identification Label

DRAFT

School ID:
School Name:
OMB # to go here

PIRLS 2011
Field Test Version

School
Questionnaire
Grade 4
National Center for Education Statistics
U.S. Department of Education
1990 K St., NW
Washington, DC 20006

School Questionnaire
Your school has agreed to participate in PIRLS

NCES is authorized to collect information from

2011 (Progress in International Reading Literacy

this questionnaire under the Education Sciences

Study), an educational research project sponsored

Reform Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279, Section

by the International Association for the Evaluation

153). You do not have to provide the information

of Educational Achievement (IEA). PIRLS measures

requested. However, the information you provide

trends in student achievement in reading, and

will help the U.S. Department of Education’s ongoing

in more than 50 countries in order to help improve

system in the United States compares to that in other

teaching and learning worldwide.

countries. There are no penalties should you choose

This questionnaire is addressed to school
principals and department heads who are asked to

not to participate in this study. Your answers may be
used only for statistical purposes and may not be

supply information about their schools. Since your
school has been selected as part of a nationwide

purpose (Public Law 107-279, Section 183 and Title V,

sample, your responses are very important in helping

subtitle A of the E-Government Act of 2002 (P.L.

to describe primary education in the United States.

107-347)). Your responses will be combined with

It is important that you answer each question
carefully so that the information provided reflects
the situation in your school as accurately as possible.

those from other participants to produce summary
statistics and reports.
This survey is estimated to take an average of 30

Some of the questions will require that you look up

minutes, including time for reviewing instructions,

school records, so you may wish to arrange for the

and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor,

this information.
Since PIRLS is an international study and all

and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid

countries are using the same questionnaire, you may

OMB control number. Send comments regarding this

find that some of the questions seem unusual or are
not entirely relevant to you or schools in the United

burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection

States. Nevertheless, it is important that you do your

this burden, to: Stephen Provasnik, National Center

of information, including suggestions for reducing

best to answer all of the questions so comparisons can for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW, Room 9034, Washington, DC
be made across countries in the study.
It is estimated that you will need approximately
30 minutes to complete this questionnaire. We

20006-5650. Do not return the completed form to
this address.
Thank you.

thank you for your cooperation and contribution.
When you have completed the questionnaire,
please place it in the accompanying envelope and
return it to to the school coordinator.

PIRLS 2011

School Enrollment
and Characteristics

4

1

Approximately what percentage of students in your
school have the following backgrounds?

What is the total enrollment of students in your
school as of March 1, 2010?

Check one circle for each line.
0 to 10%

_____________ students

11 to 25%

Write in a number.

26 to 50%
More than
50%

2
What is the total enrollment of fourth-grade
students in your school as of March 1, 2010?

_____________ students
Write in a number.

a) Come from economically
disadvantaged homes --------- O

O

O O

b) Come from economically
affluent homes ----------------- O

O

O O

5

3
A. Which best describes the immediate area in which
your school is located?
Check one circle only.

Urban–Densely populated ---

O

Suburban–On fringe or
outskirts of urban area ---

O
Medium size city or large town --- O
Small town or village --- O
Remote rural --- O

Approximately what percentage of students in
your school have English as their native
language?
Check one circle only.

O
76 to 90% --- O
51 to 75% --- O
26 to 50% --- O
25% or less --- O

More than 90% ---

B. Which best characterizes the average income level
of the school’s immediate area?
Check one circle only.

O
Medium --- O
Low --- O
High ---

DRAFT

Grade 44>

4 School Questionnaire

DRAFT

10
How much is your school’s capacity to provide instruction affected by a shortage or inadequacy
of the following?
Check one circle for each line.

Check one circle for each line.

Not at all

Not at all

A little

A little
Some

Some
A lot

A. General School Resources
a) Second language teachers ----- O

O

O O

b) Instructional materials (e.g.,
textbooks) ---------------------- O

O

O O

c) Supplies (e.g., papers,
pencils) ------------------------- O

O

O O

d) School buildings and
grounds ------------------------ O

O

O O

e) Heating/cooling and lighting
systems ------------------------- O

O

O O

f) Instructional space (e.g.,
classrooms)--------------------- O

O

O O

g) Technologically competent
staff----------------------------- O

O

O O

O
Computers for instruction ----- O O

O O
O O

h) Special equipment for
physically disabled students --- O
i)

B. Resources for Reading
Instruction
a) Teachers with a
specialization in reading ------- O

O

O O

O
Library books ------------------ O O

O O
O O

b) Computer software for
readingi nstruction------------- O
c)

d) Audio-visual resources for
readingi nstruction------------- O

DRAFT

O

A lot

C. Resources for Mathematics
Instruction
a) Teachers with a specialization
in mathematics ---------------- O

O

O O

b) Computer software for
mathematics instruction------- O

O

O O

c) Library materials relevant
to mathematics instruction ---- O

O

O O

d) Audio-visual resources for
mathematics instruction------- O

O

O O

e) Calculators for mathematics
instruction---------------------- O

O

O O

a) Teachers with a
specialization in science ------- O

O

O O

b) Computer software for
science instruction ------------- O

O

O O

c) Library materials relevant
to science instruction ---------- O

O

O O

d) Audio-visual resources for
science instruction ------------- O

O

O O

e) Calculators for science
instruction---------------------- O

O

O O

f) Science equipment and
materials ----------------------- O

O

O O

D. Resources for Science
Instruction

O O

Grade 44>

4 School Questionnaire

More than
3 times a
year

a) Inform parents about the
overall academic achievement
of the school (e.g., results of
national tests, results of
inspections of learning)-------- O

O

O O

b) Inform parents about school
accomplishments (e.g.,
tournament results, facility
improvements)----------------- O

O

O O

c) Inform parents about the
educational goals and
pedagogic principles of
the school ---------------------- O

O

O O

d) Inform parents about the
rules of the school ------------- O

O

O O

e) Discuss parents’ concerns or
wishes about the school’s
organization (e.g., rules and
regulations, time tables,
safety measures) -------------- O

O

O O

f) Provide parents with
additional learning materials
(e.g., books, computer
software) for their child to
use at home ------------------- O

O

O O

g) Organize workshops or
seminars for parents on
learning or pedagogical
issues --------------------------- O

O

O O

DRAFT

School Climate

12

13
How would you characterize each of the following
within your school?

A. To what degree is each of the following a problem
among fourth-grade students in your school?
Check one circle for each line.

Check one circle for each line.

Not a problem

Very high

Minor problem

High

Moderate problem

Medium

Serious
problem

Low
Very
low

O

O O

g) Theft ---------------------------- O

O
O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O
O

O

h) Intimidation or verbal abuse
among students (including
texting, emailing, etc.) -------- O

O

O O

O O

O

i) Physical fights among
students ------------------------ O

O

O O

O

O O

O

j) Intimidation or verbal abuse
of teachers or staff (including
texting, emailing, etc.)--------- O

O

O O

O

O O

O

a) Teachers’ job
satisfaction --------------------- O

O

O O

O

b) Teachers’ understanding
of the school’s curricular
goals---------------------------- O

O

O O

O

c) Teachers’ degree of
success in implementing
the school’s curriculum -------- O

O

O O

O

d) Teachers’ expectations
for student
achievement ------------------- O

O

O O

O

e) Parental support for
student achievement ---------- O

O

O O

f) Parental involvement
in school activities ------------- O

O

g) Students’ regard for
school property ---------------- O
h) Students’ desire to do
well in school------------------- O

a) Arriving late at school ---------- O
b) Absenteeism (i.e.,
unjustified absences) ---------- O
c) Classroom disturbance --------- O
d) Cheating------------------------ O
e) Profanity ----------------------- O
f) Vandalism ---------------------- O

O
O
O
O
O
O

B. To what degree is each of the following a problem
among teachers in your school?
Check one circle for each line.
Not a problem
Minor problem
Moderate problem
Serious
problem

a) Arriving late or leaving early--- O

O
b) Absenteeism ------------------- O O

DRAFT

Grade 44>
4 School Questionnaire

A lot of time

a) Promoting the school’s
educational vision or goals ------------ O

O O

b) Developing the school’s
curricular and educational goals ------ O

O O

c) Monitoring teachers’
implementation of the
school’s educational goals
in their teaching ----------------------- O

O O

d) Monitoring students’ learning
progress to ensure that the school’s
educational goals are reached -------- O

O O

e) Teaching some classes to understand
your students and their problems ---- O

O O

f) Keeping an orderly
atmosphere in the school ------------- O

O O

g) Ensuring that there are clear
rules for student behavior ------------- O

O O

h) Addressing disruptive
student behavior ---------------------- O

O O

i) Creating a climate of trust
among teachers ----------------------- O

O O

j) Initiating a discussion to help
teachers who have problems
in the classroom ----------------------- O

O O

k) Advising teachers who have
questions or problems with
their teaching -------------------------- O

O O

l) Visiting other schools or
attending educational
conferences for new ideas ------------- O

O O

m)Initiating educational
projects or improvements ------------- O

O O

n) Participating in professional
development activities specifically
for school principals ------------------- O

O O
DRAFT

School Readiness

Reading in Your School

18

19
About how many of the students in your school can
do the following when they begin primary school?
Check one circle for each line.

At which grade do the following reading skills
and strategies first receive a major emphasis in
instruction in your school?
Check one circle for each line.

Less than 25%

First grade or earlier

25-50%

Second grade

51-75%

Third grade

More than
75%

a) Recognize most of the
letters of the alphabet --------- O

f) Count up to 100 or higher ----- O

O
O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O
O

g) Recognize all 10 written
numerals from 1-10 ----------- O

O

O O

h) Write all 10 numerals
from 1-10 ---------------------- O

O

O O

b) Read some words -------------- O
c) Read sentences ---------------- O
d) Write letters of the alphabet -- O
e) Write some words ------------- O

DRAFT

O
O
O
O
O
O

Fourth
grade

a) Knowing letters of the
alphabet ----------------------- O

Not in
these
grades

O

O O

O

O
c) Reading words ----------------- O O
d) Reading isolated sentences --- O O
e) Reading connected text ------- O O

O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O

f) Locating information within
the text ------------------------ O

O

O O

O

g) Identifying the main ideas
of what they have read -------- O

O

O O

O

h) Explaining or supporting their
understanding of what they
have read ---------------------- O

O

O O

O

i) Comparing what they have
read with experiences they
have had ----------------------- O

O

O O

O

j) Comparing what they have
read with other things they
have read ---------------------- O

O

O O

O

k) Making predictions about
what will happen next in the
text they are reading ---------- O

O

O O

O

l) Making generalizations and
drawing inferences based on
what they have read ----------- O

O

O O

O

m) Describing the style or
structure of the text they
have read ---------------------- O

O

O O

O

n) Determining the author’s
perspective or intention ------- O

O

O O

O

b) Knowing letter-sound
relationships ------------------- O

Grade 44>
4 School Questionnaire

DRAFT

[The following questions are national options that will
be added to the questionnaire. They will be formatted
and appropriately placed among the existing items.]

1. Measure of school poverty
Around the first of October 2010, what percentage of
students at this school were eligible to receive free or
reduced-price lunches through the National School
Lunch Program?
_________ ,percentage of students

2. Percentage of students who are LEP or ELLs
Of the students currently enrolled in your school,
what percentage has been identified as limitedEnglish proficient/English language learners?
0% ------------------------------------------------------------------ O
1-5% --------------------------------------------------------------- O
6-10%-------------------------------------------------------------- O
11-25% ------------------------------------------------------------ O
26-50% ------------------------------------------------------------ O
51-75% ------------------------------------------------------------ O
76-90% ------------------------------------------------------------ O
Over 90% --------------------------------------------------------- O

3. Type of school (school control)
What type of school is this?
Regular public elementary, middle school -------------- O
A regular public school with a magnet program ------ O
A magnet school or school with a special program
emphasis e.g ., science/math school, performing
arts school, talented/gifted school, foreign language
immersion school, etc. ---------------------------------------- O
Special education: a school that primarily serves
students with disabilities------------------------------------- O
Alternative: a school that offers a curriculum designed
to provide alternative or nontraditional education, not
clearly categorized as regular or special education --- O
Vocational -------------------------------------------------------- O
Charter school -------------------------------------------------- O
Private (independent)----------------------------------------- O
Private (religiously affiliated) -------------------------------- O
Other -------------------------------------------------------------- O

Thank You
Thank you for the thought, time, and effort you have
put into completing this questionnaire.

TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center
Lynch School of Education, Boston College
timssandpirls.bc.edu

DRAFT

PIRLS 2011
Field Test Version

School
Questionnaire

Grade 4

©2010
International Association
for the Evaluation of
Educational Achievement

11

School Questionnaire

DRAFT