Publications
CARES 2019–2020 Evaluation: A Brief Review of the Second Year of Implementation
This report describes the activities and accomplishments of AISD's CARES team during the second year of implementation, school year 2019–2020. Highlights include how CARES team members were able to: maintain and in many cases exceed high-quality standards, continue progress monitoring, and provide support and resources for families, staff and community members during the first few months of the pandemic, a time of great uncertainty. CARES also expanded aspects of their feedback functions and adapted their planned implementation goals in response to staff and families' expressed…
CARES One-page Activity Summary Fall 2019 to Fall 2020
This one-page document illustrates highlights of AISD’s CARES program activities and achievements. CARES, now in its second year of implementation, was able to maintain high quality of service standards, while experiencing a dramatic increase in volume. Further, CARES team members served vital functions during the unexpected challenges of the 2019–2020 school year.
Family Pulse Survey Results Summary: July 2020
The second AISD Family Pulse survey was available to all families between July 23rd and August 13th. Families responded on behalf of over 32,000 students (N= 32,384) for about a 40% response rate for the survey. Families were asked the question “After the 100% at-home distance teaching and learning at the beginning of the 20-21 school year, which instructional model do you plan to select for your student?” and were asked to select from on-campus teaching and learning, at-home distance teaching and learning, or that they did not plan for their child to attend school in AISD in 20-21.
CARES Front Office Staff Focus Group: Summary of Results 2019-2020
The CARES (customer-focused, action-oriented, responsive, empathetic, and service-driven) initiative was launched in AISD in 2018-2019 to bring about a culture of respect and inclusiveness throughout the district. The initiative puts an emphasis on positive customer experiences for families, students and staff members. In the spring of 2020, the Department of Research and Evaluation conducted focus groups with front office staff members from a variety of schools in AISD to discover the perceptions and responses to this initiative and any barriers to full implementation.
Teacher Induction Program New Teacher Orientation Week 2019–2020
The Professional Learning Department hosts an annual week-long orientation for various staff (e.g., teacher, elementary counselors, librarians) who are new to Austin Independent School District (AISD) as part of the Teacher Induction Program (TIP). This report summarizes survey results from staff who attended the Fall 2019 TIP orientation week.
Who Cares About CARES? We Do! And You Should Too!
Educators in this day and age may have to reframe how they think about interacting with parents, students and community members. Viewing these relationships as 'customer' relationships may seem like a stretch, but it is a reality. Research shows the many benefits of providing positive customer experiences for our stakeholders, and the costs of negative experiences. AISD is facing the issue head-on with the CARES (Customer-focused, Action-oriented, Responsive, Empathetic, and Service-driven) initiative. In this paper is a summary of the research, and tips to help you show you care…