Questions about racial and ethnic equity, as well as safety, were included in this year’s North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey, reflecting public schools’ heightened priorities.
The state Department of Public Instruction invited 121,424 educators to participate in the 2020 survey. It received responses from 102,545 educators, a response rate of 84.5%.
Teachers have historically been concerned about school safety. Equity is increasingly at the heart of discussions among state educators working to erase the persistent achievement gap between students of color and their white counterparts.
The State Board of Education has also made equity the centerpiece of its five-year strategic plan, as it confronts the reality that students from disadvantaged backgrounds often need more resources to achieve the same level of academic success as students from wealthier families.
Here’s a by-the numbers look at how educators responded to questions about equity.
78 — percentage of educators who believe students attending their schools are treated equitably, justly and fairly
70 — percentage who believe schools rules are equitably applied to all students
92 — percentage of educators who said their school shows respect for all students’ cultural beliefs and practices
82 — percentage who said their school provides quality services to help students with social or emotional needs
79 — percentage of educators who said the programs and resources at their school are adequate to support students with special needs or disabilities
81 — percentage who said their school provides instructional material that reflect the diverse background of their students and community
Here’s how they responded to questions about school safety:
74 — percentage of educators who said vandalism rarely occurs at their school
64 — percentage who said physical conflict rarely occurs at their school
87 — percentage who said student possession of a weapon is a rare occurrence at their school
64 — percentage who said physical conflicts among students rarely happen at their school
58 — percentage who said bullying is not a frequent problem at their school
63 — percentage who said cyberbullying is not a frequent problem at their school
73 — percentage who say students attending their school are not bullied about their race
Source: N.C. Department of Public Instruction
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