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A Look at Some Results of the 2020 Teacher Working Conditions Survey

North Carolina parents can now find out how happy or not teachers are at their child’s public school. More than 102,000 teachers, principals, assistant principals, and other schoolbased educators participated in the 2020 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey, and answered a wide-ranging percent

series of questions on areas such as time, facilities, resources, school conduct and safety, and leadership and support. The results are available at http://asqnc.com. Most schools had enough educators respond to report individual school totals. The survey is conducted every two years, but the closure of schools due to the coronavirus pandemic complicated efforts this year. The state received responses from 84.45 percent of respondents, lower than in 2018. Here’s a look at some of the results from the survey:

MORE TEACHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT STUDENT CONDUCT

• Fewer North Carolina teachers feel student conduct is being managed well at school. • Teachers who felt that students at their school follow the rules of conduct has dropped from 70 percent in 2016 to 65 percent in 2018 and to 62 percent this year. • On whether school administrators consistently enforce rules for student conduct, the percentage of teachers who agree dropped from 72 percent in 2016 to 69 percent in 2016 to 66 percent this year. • More than three-quarters of teachers felt school administrators support their efforts to maintain discipline in their classrooms and that teachers consistently enforce rules for student conduct. But the percentage is lower than in 2016 or 2018. • But 89 percent of educators said they felt the faculty work in a school environment that is safe. That’s the The rising concerns about student conduct occur at the same time there’s been a statewide drop in suspensions as schools look for alternatives to removing students from campus.

TEACHERS RATE SCHOOLS ON SAFETY AND EQUITY

• New questions were asked this year about equity and school safety. • At this school, all students are treated equitably, justly and fairly — 78 percent • School rules are equitably applied to all students — 71 percent • Physical conflicts among students rarely happen at school — 64 percent • Bullying is not a frequent problem at this school — 58 same as in 2018 but down from 93 percent in 2016.

• Cyberbullying is not a frequent problem among students at this school — 63 percent • At this school, students are not bullied about their race — 73 percent

ARE TEACHERS HAPPY WHERE THEY WORK?

Teachers were asked to rate their school’s leadership and whether they felt they were working in a good place. It’s a red flag for school districts when they see results at individual schools that are much lower than the district average. • Statewide, 79 percent of educators said school leadership consistently supports teachers. That’s unchanged from 2018. • Statewide, 86 percent of educators said their school is a good place to work and learn. That’s down from 87 percent in 2018.

Portions of this article were reprinted with the permission of the News & Observer, reporter Keung Hui

State Health Plan Newsletter Provides Information to Help You Live Healthier

Check out this issue of “Member Focus,” the online newsletter for those enrolled in the North Carolina State Health Plan. Following are some of the featured articles:

SHP Extends Cost Waivers for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment 2021 Premium Credits for Tobacco Users Humana Benefits and Savings Plan for Medicare Advantage Members Clear Pricing Project Provider Updating Your Primary Care Provider Third-Party Recovery Slowing the Spread of COVID-19