1. LAEF
Satisfaction & Priorities
Survey 2013-14

2. Executive Summary
Survey Response
• 1,707 starts and 1,456 completed surveys
• Focus of the survey was on the satisfaction of programs in 2013-14 and
program priorities for 2014-15
• Survey responses similar to 2012-13
• Parents satisfied overall with funded programs, continue to support
small class sizes
• Overwhelmingly positive response to new STEM program
• Strong support for continuing the Innovation Grant
!
• Representative sample by school and by grade
• Non-donors are under-represented

3. Executive Summary
Donation Attitudes
Year 4 of LAEF’s $1,000 per student suggested donation amount
!
• Respondents expect all families to donate what they can afford, with broad
understanding that not all families are able to donate at the “ask”
!
• “District Counts on Me” remains the predominant reason that donors give
!
• Among respondents, 92% report they donate annually
!

4. Program Satisfaction
!
• Overall satisfaction is high across all grades & programs, consistent over the
last 3 years
• Increased communication is needed to improve parent understanding of
program curriculum, especially for STEM and cSTEM
• Comments reflect that parents value K-3 class student:teacher ratio
reduction, but would like even smaller class sizes
• Overall satisfaction at Jr. Highs is high across all LAEF-funded programs
Executive Summary

5. Pressure Points
!
STEM - Different lessons were tested at different schools during the pilot
year, resulting in varied experiences across the district. Comments reflect
different levels of awareness among parents of their students’ hands-on
science experience.
!
Jr. High Electives - Parents would like to have expanded elective offerings,
specifically increased STEM offerings (coding, robotics) and Home Economics/
Cooking.
!
Executive Summary

6. Executive Summary
Board & Grant-Making
!
• Parents give LAEF Board good marks for communicating about funding
and reasons to give
!
• Majority of parents believe LAEF grant is distributed fairly between
schools and grade levels
!
• Parents are still unclear about how LAEF works with District to develop
LAEF grant and how funds are allocated

7. Executive Summary
Funding & Fundraising
!
• Most parents remain committed to supporting high-quality, well-
rounded education (smaller class sizes, enrichment programs) via
donations
!
•While committed to high quality public education, parents recognize
that further changes need to be made to public education funding
• Eg: property tax inequities
• News of increasing tax revenues and state funding changes is
confusing perception of continuing need
!
•There is strong parent support for pursuing partnerships with local
businesses
!
• Parents expect fiscal responsibility, accounting for funds

8. Action Items
Communication
Despite good marks on communication, many comments indicate lack of
information about LAEF programs:
• LAEF Board needs to remain visible on campus, improve outreach to
school communities
• Increase communications about LAEF programs
• Parents would greatly appreciate regular program updates from LAEF-
funded staff
!Investigate Program changes with District:
• STEM - Build upon successes from first year of pilot to make the
program even more robust, sustainable, and fine-tune the student
experience across grades and at all schools
• Jr. High - Consider offering additional electives in STEM and Home
Economics

9. Survey Participation

10. Who took the survey?
3
3
3
3
3
n = 1,695
Almond Covington GardnerEgan Loyola Oak Santa Rita Springer
0
62.5
125
187.5
250
218
197
210216
167
246247
231
189
Blach

11. Are all populations
represented?
# of Families % Population # of Response % of Responses
over/under
Representation
Almond 358 14.7 189 13.1 -1.6%
Covington 369 15.1 247 17.1 2.0%
Gardner Bullis 223 9.2 167 11.6 2.4%
Loyola 370 15.2 216 15.0 -0.2%
Oak 334 13.7 210 14.5 0.8%
Santa Rita 420 17.2 197 13.6 -3.6%
Springer 363 14.9 218 15.1 0.2%
Blach 499 45.5 231 51.3 +5.8%
Egan 558 54.5 246 48.7 -5.8%
Survey sample proportional to actual elementary enrollment +/- 3%.
Junior Highs- Egan is under-represented

12. Historic
Satisfaction & Program Survey
Participation
Survey Starts Completes Complete %
2011 S&P 1927 1525 0.79
2012 S&P 1496 1237 0.83
2013 S&P 1489 1237 0.83
2014 S&P 1707 1456 0.85
Note: “Completes” equals respondents who click “Done”.
Effective completion rate even higher.

13. Donation Attitudes

14. Which statement best represents your attitude
about donating to LAEF?
0%
13%
25%
38%
50%
Non Donor Tax Deduction Not High Priority Try Every Year Count on Me Every Family
2011 2012 2013 2014
n = 1,620
“Counts on Me” response captures strongest sense of community “greater good”
While respondent pool changes over time, attitudes are highly consistent

15. Which statement best represents your attitude
about donating to LAEF?
Comments
Top Themes Comments Share
We Donate Every Year 18 16%
LAEF Is a Good Cause 12 11%
All Families Should Donate If They Can Afford It 11 10%
n = 111

16. How is LAEF doing?

17. Rate LAEF Board Members
n = 1,520
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
The LAEF Board of Directors strives to represent all of the families in
our school district. Please read the following statements and provide a
rating that reflects your thoughts/feelings about LAEF.
LAEF Board members are parents
like me who are interested in
keeping our schools strong.
!
!
LAEF Board members at my school
are accessible and open to hearing
my input.
!
!
LAEF Board members effectively
communicate with the parent
community on funding issues.

18. Top Themes Comments Share
Communication Issues 22 24%
Don’t Know LAEF Representatives 17 18%
Praise for LAEF Representatives 12 13%
n = 93
Rate LAEF Board Members Comments

19. LAEF Grant Attitudes
n = 1,497
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
The LAEF Board of Directors strives to create a balanced grant. Please
read the following statements and provide a rating that reflects your
thoughts/feelings about the LAEF grant.
LAEF grants are spread fairly across
all the SCHOOLS in our district.
!
!
LAEF grants are spread fairly across
all GRADES in the district so that all
students benefit equally.
!
!
LAEF's current level of fund raising
and funding to the school district is
about right.

20. Top Themes Comments Share
Don’t Really Know 100 52%
It’s Too Much Money 26 13%
Communication Issues 13 7%
n = 193
LAEF Grant Attitudes Comments

21. Kindergarten

22. Kindergarten Program Satisfaction
n = 243
How satisfied are you with the following LAEF funded Kindergarten
programs?
** (The total cost to deliver each program this year to EVERY Kindergarten
at ALL 7 elementary schools)
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Do Not Know Neutral Satisfied Very Satisfied
Reduce Class Size from 30 to 25 or
less ($175,000)**
!
Library ($33,000)**
!
Art Docent Lessons ($7,000)**
!
Living Classroom Science Docents
Lessons ($5,700)**
!
STEM Lab (Science/Technology/
Engineering/Math) ($71,400)**

23. Top Themes Comments Share
Want Even Smaller Classes 15 38%
Reduced Class Size is Important 7 18%
Library 6 15%
STEM 5 13%
n = 39
Kindergarten Satisfaction Comments

24. n = 242
Student:Teacher Ratio Reduction
How is it going?
LAEF spent $700,000 (or 29% of its grant) on reducing student:teacher
ratios in grades K-3.To reduce class size from 30 to 25 or less costs
$175,000 for kindergarten.
!
Do you believe this is a good use of your donation?
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

25. Top Themes Comments Share
Good Use of Funds 30 71%
Would Like Class Sizes to Be Even Smaller 22 52%
n = 42
Student:Teacher Ratio Reduction
Comments

26. Grades 1-3

27. Grade 1-3 Program Satisfaction
n = 730
Small Group = 571
How satisfied are you with the following LAEF-funded programs provided
to your child(ren) in grades 1-3. **(The total cost to deliver each program
this year to EVERY student in grades 1-3 at ALL 7 elementary schools)
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Do Not Know Neutral Satisfied Very Satisfied
Reduce Class Size from 30 to 25 or
less ($525,000)**
Library ($98,000)**
Art Docent Lessons ($21,000)**
Living Classroom Science Docents
Lessons ($17,000)**
Physical Education ($127,000)**
Small Group Instruction Time, Grades
1 & 2 ($120,000)**
STEM Lab(Science/Technology/
Engineering/Math) ($215,000)**

28. Top Themes Comments Share
STEM 57 36%
PE 48 30%
Class Size 42 27%
Art 31 20%
Small Group 20 13%
Grade 1-3 Program Satisfaction
Comments
n = 158

29. n = 727
Student:Teacher Ratio Reduction
How is it going?
LAEF spent $700,000 (or 29% of its grant) on reducing student:teacher
ratios in grades K-3.To reduce class size from 30 to 25 or less in grades
1-3 costs $525,000.
!
Do you believe this is a good use of your donation?
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Stongly Agree

30. Top Themes Comments Share
Good Use Of Funds 61 75%
Would Like Even Smaller Classes 23 28%
Teachers/Aides 18 22%
Student:Teacher Ratio Reduction
Comments
n = 81

31. Grades 4-6

32. Grades 4-6
Program Satisfaction
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Not Familiar Neutral Satisfied Very Satisfied
PE ($253,000)**
!
Instrumental and Vocal Music ($315,000)**
!
Library ($98,000)**
!
Art Docent Lessons ($21,000)**
!
Living Classroom Science Docents Lessons
($17,000)**
!
cSTEM- grade 6 ($60,000)**
!
STEM Lab (Science/Technology/
Engineering/Math) ($215,000)**
How satisfied are you with the LAEF-funded programs provided to your
children in grades 4-6? **(The total cost to deliver each program this year to
EVERY student in grades 4-6 at ALL 7 elementary schools)
n = 724
n = 694 cSTEM

33. Grades 4-6
Program Satisfaction
Top Themes Comments Share
STEM 46 32%
PE 37 26%
Music 31 22%
Art 26 18%
cSTEM 23 16%
n = 143

34. Instrumental &Vocal Music
LAEF provided $315,000 for Instrumental andVocal Music for students in
grades 4-6 at all 7 elementary schools this year. How satisfied are you with
the LAEF-funded Music Programs in grades 4-6 this school year?
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Neutral Satisfied Very Satisfied
4th grade - Weekly Vocal Music (Fall) /
Recorder (Spring)
!
5th grade - Twice weekly Instrumental Music
(1st semester Vocal and Instrumental, 2nd
semester Instrumental)
!
5th grade - Twice weekly Vocal Music (if your
student is not in Instrumental Music)
!
6th grade - Twice weekly Instrumental Music
!
6th grade - Twice weekly Vocal Music (if your
student is not in Instrumental Music)
n = 558 - 621

35. Instrumental &Vocal Music
Comments
Top Themes Comments Share
Happy with Music Program 37 39%
Dissatisfied with Music Program 28 29%
Fund Other Things 9 9%
Communications Issues 7 7%
n = 96

36. Junior High

37. Junior High
Program Satisfaction
Each year LAEF designates 23% of its grant to the 2 Junior Highs, which
represent 23% of the district students. How satisfied are you with these
LAEF-funded programs for this school year? **(Amount of LAEF funding
for ALL 7th & 8th students at Blach and Egan)
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Neutral Satisfied Very Satisfied
Science CSR ** $90,000
!
!
Math CSR ** $90,000
!
!
Social Studies CSR ** $90,000
!
!
English CSR ** $90,000
!
!
Library (25 hours/week) ** $70,00
!
!
Electives ** $125,000
n = 454

38. Top Themes Comments Share
Pleased Overall 24 38%
Classes Still Too Large 9 14%
Not Enough Information 9 14%
Library 8 13%
More Elective Choices 6 9%
n = 64
Junior High
Program Satisfaction Comments

39. Did your Junior High Student receive
one of their top 3 electives choices?
n = 454
0
55
110
165
220
Blach Egan
No I don’t know Yes

40. n = 22
Junior High Elective Comments
Top Themes Comments Share
Satisfied 10 45%
Yes, but… 6 27%

41. Junior High Additional Electives
n = 110
Are there additional electives that you would like to see offered?
Top Themes Comments Share
STEM 31 28%
Cooking/Home Economics 29 26%
Languages 16 15%

42. Innovation Grant

43. Innovation Grant Awareness
n = 1485
The Los Altos School District is a recognized leader in education. This year, LAEF allocated $750,000
towards an Innovation Grant, which funds innovative learning and interactive classrooms. This includes:
*STEM Lab Teachers at each elementary school *STEM Coach to bring more Science, Engineering,
Technology and Math to the classroom *Technology Integration Coach to assist in designing the iLearn
professional development program and support teachers integrating technology in the classroom
*iLearn - a professional development opportunity designed to empower teachers to innovate and
increase student engagement.
!
What statement best describes your awareness of these programs:
0
250
500
750
1000
Not Aware Somewhat Aware Very Aware

44. Top Themes Comments Share
STEM 91 59%
Unaware/Would Like More Information 46 30%
iLearn 25 16%
Communication Issues 17 11%
n = 154
Innovation Grant Awareness
Comments

45. Innovation Grant Continuation
n = 1471
Programs like those funded by the Innovation Grant typically
require the investment of resources over several years to realize
measurable results.While exposure to these programs will vary
based on your child's grade, how important is it to continue
funding our Innovation in Education Grant?
0
250
500
750
1000
Not Important Somewhat Important Extremely Important

46. Top Themes Comments Share
Very Important 47 36%
STEM 29 22%
Not Enough Information/Too Soon To Tell 22 17%
Technology 15 12%
Different Priorities/Back to Basics 11 9%
n = 129
Innovation Grant Continuation
Comments

47. Innovation Grant Impact
n = 1483
Have these innovative teaching approaches in the classroom
improved your student's engagement and depth of learning?
0
225
450
675
900
No I Don't Know Yes

48. Top Themes Comments Share
Don’t Know/Too Early to Tell 56 33%
See Benefits Already 48 29%
No Impact/Negative Impact 20 12%
n = 168
Innovation Grant Impact Comments

49. Future Innovation Grants
n = 219
Are there other areas that you would like to see addressed in
future Innovation Grants?
Top Themes Comments Share
Technology/Computer Skills 49 22%
Science/STEM 36 16%
Foreign Language 25 11%
Math 22 10%
Music & Art 18 8%

50. Action Items

51. Action Items
Communications:
!
• LAEF Board members need to continue to be visible on
campus and reach out to their school communities
- Each campus should create their own action plan
!
• Strive for consistent communications about LAEF programs
at all schools
!
• Parents would greatly appreciate program updates directly
from the staff which LAEF funds
!
• Stress participation message

52. Action Items
Investigate Program changes with District:
!
• STEM - Build upon first year of pilot program to fine-tune the
student experience across all elementary schools
!
• Jr. High Electives - Consider offering additional STEM and Home
Economics
!
• Continue efforts to improve communication to parents regarding
LAEF-funded programs
- Investigate new methods to increase visibility of programs and
their benefits

53. ThankYou!
Thank you for taking the time to read our survey results!
Please note that although a lot of time and energy was put
into making this the best survey possible, we are volunteers
and this is not our field of expertise! The statistical
accuracy of this survey has not been verified by a
professional. In many cases the sample size from a
particular question/school/grade level may be too small to
draw conclusions from. All these factors should be taken
into account as you read the results.
-The volunteers of the LAEF Board