Contact:

Alex Kincaid 

Writer and Content Specialist

amkincai@daytonpublic.com

For Immediate Release

 

DPS parents report high-quality education, excellent communication and good district response to COVID-19

Overall, 59% of parents say DPS is moving in the right direction.

 

A recent survey found that prior to the state-mandated school closure, 59% of parents with students in the Dayton Public Schools believed the district was moving in the right direction. This comes after two years of major improvements in the district as efforts are made to continue to change for the better. 

In the 2019-2020 school year alone, the district increased its overall letter grade on the Ohio State Report Card, received a value-added grade of “A” in gifted education, and a “C” in gap closing. In addition, the Be Present for a Better Future attendance campaign improved the district’s overall attendance rate and reduced the number of chronically absent students. 

These good reviews from parents persisted throughout the remainder of the year, even after COVID-19 caused an abrupt end to in-person classes. Parents ultimately said the transition to online learning in mid-March was successful, students participated in the educational process while at home, and the district provided for the needs of students. 

Below are several key ways the district continued to meet the needs and expectations of students and parents throughout the closure, as evidenced by the survey results.

 

High-Quality Education

The survey, conducted by Burges & Burges and LJR Custom Strategies with city/county funds from the Montgomery County Educational Services Center, found that parents believe the high-quality education offered to their students largely remained the same before and after the transition to online learning. Sixty-seven percent of parents rated the quality of education at DPS as good or excellent before COVID-19, and that number was 66% after schools went online.

Recognizing that learning remotely is much different than learning in a classroom setting, DPS told parents that students would likely only spend a few hours learning online each day. The survey indicates that most students adhered to those guidelines. More than half of parents told surveyors that their student either spent between 2-4 hours learning online each day, or more than 4 hours.

Online learning involved joining a virtual classroom to receive instruction from a teacher, completing online weekly assignments, and continuing to use various district programs to ensure students improved their math and reading skills. 

Other notable findings about online learning include:

• 77% of parents agree or strongly agree that the amount of work assigned to students for online learning was appropriate.
• 76% of parents agree or strongly agree that online learning has allowed them to help more with their child’s education.
• 81% of parents agree or strongly agree that teachers provided timely help and feedback while students were learning online.

 

Excellent Communication

When asked what DPS had done particularly well during the pandemic, parents pointed to communication. They noted their main source of information is teachers, followed by the Superintendent and school principals. 

Overall, 75% of parents said communication from the district is good or excellent. This number was the same before and after COVID-19. 

Throughout the closure, parents received weekly communication directly from the Superintendent in the form of automated phone calls/text messages or video updates shared on the website and district social media. 

 

Helping Students Succeed

During the school closure, DPS distributed 4,000 Chromebooks, more than 1,800 WiFi hotspots and also provided internet access via 32 buses stationed throughout Dayton neighborhoods each week. The district’s IT Department was also available to troubleshoot issues with Chromebooks, WiFi and DPS programs.

Survey results indicate that students had their technological needs met to allow them to participate in online learning. More than 90% of households had a computer or tablet in their home and 90% had internet access. Those who did not have internet in their home gained access either through the district’s offerings or another means. Only 1% of parents reported they could not access the internet at all. 

While schools were closed, the district also provided free meals to students each week. The survey results show that 32% of families utilized a food distribution site. Ultimately, the district distributed more than 404,800 meals during the 10-week closure.