In today’s ever-evolving educational landscape, decisions about instruction, technology use, and professional development can no longer rely on guesswork or assumptions. Having accurate, trustworthy data is vital for shaping a district’s strategic priorities and ensuring that every stakeholder’s voice is heard. That’s why TCEA is proud to support Project Tomorrow’s Speak Up Survey — an annual, nation-wide survey that gathers input from students, staff, parents, and community members to guide meaningful school improvement.
The Power of the Speak Up Survey
The Speak Up Survey isn’t just another questionnaire. It offers a comprehensive snapshot of attitudes and experiences around technology use in schools — from device availability and student engagement to teacher training needs and administrative concerns. By participating, your district gains not only tailored local data but also a way to compare trends at both state and national levels. This broad view helps leaders pinpoint strengths and challenges, letting them address issues before they become stumbling blocks.
No Cost and Complete Confidentiality
One of the biggest misconceptions about large-scale data collection is that it must be expensive. However, there is no cost to participate in Speak Up or to receive your results. Additionally, all responses remain confidential, and no individual respondent can be identified. This means you can encourage students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to provide candid feedback without worrying about privacy.
What the Speak Up Survey Means for Leaders
Districts receive their local data within 30 days of completing the snapshot survey to enable meaningful change during the school year. Data gleaned from Speak Up can have a transformative impact on your district’s strategic planning. By reviewing feedback on everything from network reliability to learning software usage, you can more accurately allocate resources, set measurable goals, and target professional development where it’s needed most. This level of detail informs everything from technology integration efforts to future budget proposals and can even bolster grant applications that require evidence-based needs assessments.
Key Dates and Preparing for the Survey
The Speak Up Survey is open now and will remain available through May 14, 2025. If your district has participated in the past, it’s still necessary to register to take part again. It’s best to get started early, so families and staff have enough time to participate without feeling rushed — especially before testing seasons ramp up. Before distributing the survey link, consider having a quick technology inventory on hand, along with any existing data on digital initiatives or training opportunities. The more background information you have, the easier it will be to interpret your district’s survey results.
I encourage you to seize this opportunity to tap into your community’s collective insights and grow your district’s capacity for data-informed decision making. With no expense, complete confidentiality, and a potential wealth of actionable information, there’s every reason to join the Speak Up survey this year. By leveraging these results, you can nurture a learning environment that consistently reflects the needs of students, teachers, families, and the broader community.
Remember—when every voice is invited to the table, the whole district benefits. Let’s work together to keep our schools on the path toward continuous improvement, guided by the clear and credible insights that only strong data can provide.
