Oak Lawn-Hometown School Dist. 123 has issued its annual parent satisfaction survey coinciding with district-wide parent-teacher conferences this month. The survey attempts to gauge the overall impact of the district's strategic plan on families and whether parents are satisfied with their child's overall educational experience.

What's different this year is that for the first time parents can complete the parent satisfaction survey online. The survey also is being offered in three different languages — English, Spanish and Arabic — reflecting Oak Lawn's changing population.

"We've changed questions to make them more specific," D123 Superintendent Art Fessler said. "We've changed some of the wording to get some feedback into how well we're communicating with parents."

The 22-question survey is broken down into five different themes, all interconnected to the district's strategic plan, including safety, school/parent communication, student-centered relationships, school climate and academic quality.

Topmost is parents' feedback to changes from a quarter to a trimester system in D123 elementary schools. The district also wants to know if parents are satisfied with their student's midterm progress.

D123 uses Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) and concept mapping to form district policies, curriculum and strategies designed to support the individual needs of students. Data gathered from the parent satisfaction survey will inform the district how well it is communicating those goals to parents.

"We're trying to find a balance in communication — whether it's oversaturation or the right amount," Fessler said.

The district also is trying to identify how many families have Internet access at home to determine the best means of future communications with parents.

Since the parent satisfaction survey was released on Friday, Fessler said the district received 200 completed surveys before the end of the day. About 1,800 families have children registered in D123 schools; the district hopes for a 50 percent completion rate.

Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School held parent-teacher conferences last week; parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for this Thursday and Friday at Covington, Sward, Hannum, Kolmar and Hometown Elementary Schools.

Computer labs will be open to parents during parent-teacher conferences. Hard-copy surveys also will be available.

Parents have until Nov. 24 to complete the survey. To access the D123 parent satisfaction survey, click here.