1. LAEF
Parent Advocacy Survey
Jan 2012

2. Purpose
• Give parents a voice, keep them happy
• Reduce risk of misplaced expectations
• Prepare for 2012-13 grantmaking process
• Understand parent attitudes, align w/ District

3. Methodology
• Short web survey to all LASD parents, separate
from in-depth sat/priorities survey
• Detailed Setup/context re: LAEF’s mission, what
‘advocacy’ is and how LAEF advocates today
• Test limits of parent attitudes on advocacy, don’t
just seek affirmation, allow them to “vote No”

4. Key Findings
• Overwhelming appreciation that we took this survey
• Attitudes re: donating to LAEF stable to improving
• Big surprise: LAEF perceived value slipped vs 2010
• Most parents think current level of advocacy is good, many
parents want even more, a few feel LAEF has gone too far
• Many parents like the idea of LAEF being ‘more hands-on’
while a few are concerned about LAEF ‘playing its position’

5. Which statement best represents your attitude
about donating to LAEF?
60%
45%
30%
15%
0%
Non Donor Tax Deduction Not High Priority Try Every Year Counts on Me Every Family
2010 2011 2012
Note: “counts on me” response expresses the strongest “greater good” sentiment
n = 955

6. Which statement best represents your attitude
about donating to LAEF?
Top Themes Comments Share
Understands the Value of LAEF and Gives What they Can 52 46%
Everyone Should Give Something 23 20%
State and District Financial Situation Needs to Improve 16 14%
LAEF should Exercise More Control with District 14 12%
n = 113

7. Are the staff and programs supported by
LAEF's grant a good value for your donation?
70%
!
35%
0%
Very good Good Neutral Poor Very poor
2010 2012
NOTE: Between 2010 and 2012, LAEF’s grant grew 30%, the suggested donation
grew 25%, yet class sizes have gone up and we’ve lost enrichment programs.
n = 873

8. Are the staff and programs supported by
LAEF's grant a good value for your donation?
Top Themes Comments Share
Questioning the Quality or Balance of Programs 43 34%
Good Value Overall 37 29%
Missing Previously Funded Programs 24 19%
Not Enough Data to Make a Value Judgement 24 19%
n = 126

9. Should advocacy be a larger or smaller part of
LAEF's role?
60% Larger Smaller
54%
45%
30%
30%
15% 12%
2% 2%
0%
Much Larger A Little Larger About Right A Little Smaller A Lot Smaller
n = 873

10. Should advocacy be a larger or smaller part of
LAEF's role?
Larger It’s about right Smaller
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100 parents n = 873

11. Should advocacy be a larger or smaller part of
LAEF's role?
Top Themes Comments Share
Parents are paying, they deserve more voice 42 29%
Need structural/process improvement 21 15%
Caution: partner with, don’t usurp Admin/Trustees 10 7%
LAEF has crossed the line 6 4%
Don't know/Not sure 36 25%
n = 143

12. Are there other District matters in which you
would like LAEF to advocate on your behalf?
Top Themes Comments Share
BCS 53 24%
Union/Staff 25 11%
Gen Prog Impr 21 10%
No/not sure 45 20%
Other 26 12%
n = 221

13. Keeps parents well informed with OUTBOUND
communications.
100%
75%
50% 48%
25%
20%
20% 20%
0%
LAEF PTA Supes Trustees
Non-Neutral 16:1 9:1 16:1 1:1
Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
n = 849

14. Seeks INPUT from parents.
100%
75%
51%
50%
43%
25% 30%
22%
0%
LAEF PTA Supes Trustees
Non-Neutral 15:1 7:1 3:1 1:1
Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
n = 844

15. RESPONDS to input it receives from parents.
100%
75%
50%
66%
53%
25% 36%
33%
0%
LAEF PTA Supes Trustees
Non-Neutral 18:1 10:1 5:1 1:1
Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
n = 835

16. Takeaways re: Communications
• We can never over-communicate
• Parent perceptions are clear/consistent
• Parents appreciate being surveyed
• Feedback loops need improvement
• Q: Frequent small ‘pulse check’ surveys?

17. Should LAEF be “more hands on”
with the deployment of its grant?
Yes No
40%
20% 40%
21%
18% 16%
6%
0%
Definitely Yes Probably Yes Neutral Probably Not Definitely Not
n = 853

18. Should LAEF be “more hands on”
with the deployment of its grant?
Yes Neutral No
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100 parents n = 853

19. What new programs would you enroll your
child(ren) in, before or after school?
Top Programs Responses Share
Music 84 24%
Foreign Language 69 19%
Art 66 19%
Science 51 15%
Math 47 13%
n = 340

20. Any final comments you'd like to share?
Top Themes Comments Share
Gratitude 84 52%
Concern 32 20%
Re: a particular program 11 7%
n = 161