May 4, 2012

Dear Parents of Students Participating in the [insert program name] Program,

The [insert school district name] is beginning the process of data collection to evaluate and improve our programs and services for gifted students. During this process, a district committee under the leadership of [insert district coordinator’s name] will be reviewing various sources of data including:

Ø  state code and rules;

Ø  program documents, services, procedures, materials, and curriculum;

Ø  professional development required for program personnel;

Ø  interviews of key personnel and building administrators;

Ø  standardized achievement and other assessment data of identified students;

Ø  program implementation; and

Ø  surveys to stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of program services.

We need your help. As a parent of at least one student participating in the program, we are interested in your perceptions of how well various elements of the program are working for your child. By following the link provided [insert link to an electronic survey], you will find a survey with items related to the gifted program. The purpose of this survey is to gain insights about the gifted program that will guide school improvement. Responses are anonymous. The results will be used collectively to understand the perceptions of the program from community stakeholders.

If you have more than one child who is currently participating or has participated in the program, you may decide how to respond according to what you feel is most representative of your experience with the program or what is most important for program leaders to know. If clarification or further explanation is warranted, please use the comment sections provided. For all questions, there will be a scale for you to provide your ranking such as:

q1 (Not at All) q2 (Somewhat) q3 (Adequately) q4 (To a Great Extent) q5 (Do Not Know)

If you just answer each question with the scale items, the survey will likely take about 10 minutes to complete. However, if possible, it would be helpful if you could provide comments to help explain your rankings.

The window for completing the survey is [insert dates]. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact [insert local person’s name, title, e-mail address, and phone number].

Thank you for your help,

[insert superintendent’s and/or district coordinator’s name]