Publications Archive
CARES Evaluation Summary, 2021-2022
This evaluation summary describes the activities and impact of the CARES team in Austin ISD 2021–22. CARES stands for Customer-focused, Action-oriented, Responsive, Empathetic, and Service-driven. The team’s work began four years ago when CARES was formed. Their purpose and implementation work aligned with the district’s strategic plan to foster a positive and equitable organizational culture. Examples of CARES’ activities include giving RAVEs (Recognizing All Valuable Employees), providing training, responding to requests for help from the AISD community, and monitoring campus climate data.
AISD’s Onboarding Process / Early Career Experience Survey Results
As part of AISD's commitment to continually improve the employee experience, data about employees’ personal experiences, supports, and challenges were collected to gather information about their onboarding and early career experience. Insights from the survey results will be used to refine the district’s onboarding processes and improve supports for early career staff. Results suggested that all sites should have a formal onboarding process, ensure technology access is enable and provide more training on AISD systems, and providing each staff with a point of contact.
CARES: Implementation, Impact, and Adaptation, 2020–2021
This report contains descriptions of implementation and impact data related to CARES's effect on students, families and staff in 2020–2021. Responses to CARES-related survey items showed the majority of respondents were impacted positively. Further, the CARES team increased employee recognition efforts, the number of RAVEs given increased to 3,667, and, Let's Talk dialogues increased to almost 50,000. Expanding the Let's Talk communication platform was especially helpful to families during winter storm Uri. Qualitative data reflected the emphasis on customer service and…
Student Teaching Program: Student Teacher and Cooperating Teacher Survey Results, Spring 2021
This report describes the results from the Student Teacher Survey and the Cooperating Teacher Survey. Findings indicated most student teachers had a positive experience in the Student Teaching Program. Additionally, most cooperating teachers would recommend their student teacher for employment suggesting the Student Teaching Program can serve as an effective teacher recruitment pipeline for AISD.
Student Teaching Program Application and Hire Rates: 2019-2020
This report summarizes the application rate for the 2019-2020 student teacher cohort between January 2020 and August 2020, as well as hire rates for student teachers who applied. Overall, 49% of the student teacher cohort applied for a teacher position during that time frame, and 44% who applied were hired and employed as a teacher by November 2020.
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.