DESE Model Feedback Instruments & Administration Protocols

DESE has developed model feedback surveys for use in educator evaluation: a student feedback survey for classroom teachers, and a staff feedback survey for school-level administrators. DESE model surveys are optional. Districts, schools, or individual educators may adopt or adapt these surveys, and/or choose to use other feedback instruments. The Student and Staff Surveys were revised in 2019 to align with updates to the Model Rubrics.

**Check Out the Mini Forms!!** New to surveys? Interested in taking a quick temperature of your students? Try the new mini forms! In just 8–10 items, you can capture student feedback on key aspects of your practice related to Curriculum, Planning Assessment (Standard I), Teaching All Students (Standard II), or both! Download a mini form below.

DESE Model Feedback Surveys	Standard Form	Short Form	Mini Forms	Administration Protocol
Student Survey (Grades 3–5)	Standard Form	Short Form	Mini Form St. I Mini Form St. II Mini Form St. I & II	Administration Protocol
Student Survey (Grades 6–12)	Standard Form	Short Form	Mini Form St. I Mini Form St. II Mini Form St. I & II	Administration Protocol
Staff Survey	Standard Form	Short Form		Administration Protocol

K-2 Discussion Prompts & Administration Protocol

Top 5 Reasons to Use DESE's Model Feedback Surveys
Although educators aren't required to use DESE's Model Feedback Surveys, we think they have a lot of value. Here are the Top 5 Reasons to consider using one or more of the DESE Model Feedback Surveys:

DESE Model Survey items are designed to yield actionable information about practice. Built on the premise that educators deserve high quality feedback, the survey items reflect day-to-day practice and yield meaningful and actionable information for educators.
Surveys development was directly informed by Massachusetts educators and students. DESE is indebted to the more than 2,200 students, parents, teachers, and school and district administrators who provided input throughout the survey development process.
DESE Model Surveys are Massachusetts-specific and aligned with the Standards for Effective Teaching and Effective Administrative Leadership Practice.
The DESE Model Student Surveys for Grades 3–5 and Grades 6–12 are vertically aligned, meaning that although they include language that is developmentally appropriate for different age groups, the items on each survey are similar and cover the same constructs. This alignment underscores the importance of common practices associated with effective teaching across grade levels.
DESE Model Survey items were developed and validated through pilot administration with Massachusetts students and administrators—over 10,000 Massachusetts students and 1,500 Massachusetts educators piloted survey items in 2013-14. More information about the survey development process and validity analyses from the student surveys is available in a complete technical report: DESE Model Student Feedback Survey: Technical Report .

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the DESE Model Feedback Surveys valid measures of teacher and administrator practice?
Yes. DESE Model Feedback Survey items were piloted by Massachusetts students and administrators—over 10,000 Massachusetts students and 1,500 Massachusetts educators piloted survey items in 2013-14—and were evaluated across four aspects of test validity: content, substantive, structural, and generalizability validity. External and consequential validity will be addressed in a study for the 2014-2015 school year. To see results from the student survey validation work from the pilot.
How were the DESE Model Feedback Surveys developed?
Who can use the DESE Model Feedback Surveys?
Who is already using the DESE Model Feedback Surveys?
Why should I use a DESE Model Feedback Survey to collect feedback on my practice?
What's the difference between the standard form and the short form?

Last Updated: March 21, 2019