Summary: Open Office Hour (OOH): Parent Satisfaction Surveys

Open Office Hour: Parent Satisfaction Surveys Summary

Date: November 20, 2025 (1:00-2:00pm)

Audience: ECFE Parent Educators

Key Take Aways: The session was energetic, open, and collaborative, with parent educators from multiple districts sharing examples, challenges, and strategies for creating meaningful and accessible parent surveys. Conversation centered on key discussion questions such as identifying the main purpose of each survey, understanding which questions give the best or least useful feedback, and exploring how results are shared and used to inform teaching or class planning. Participants also reflected on accessibility for all families, including language and format, and talked about the support they need to strengthen their own surveys. Educators compared methods like paper forms, Google Forms, QR codes, and in-class completion, emphasizing the value of purposeful questions, cultural responsiveness, and giving families dedicated time to respond. The session highlighted strong interest in a shared question bank or framework to support consistent, high-quality parent engagement across ECFE programs.

Key Considerations When Building Your Parent Survey

Most Helpful When Collecting Feedback

Types of Questions

Use clear, simple, and culturally responsive questions.

Ask only questions with a clear purpose that you can act on.

Offer accessible formats (paper, digital, QR code, verbal, multiple languages).

Keep the survey short and focused.

Include a mix of closed and open questions for both data and stories.

Ensure psychological safety and confidentiality for honest feedback.

Plan how you will use results and close the feedback loop with families.

Use Google Forms with QR codes allowing families to complete surveys on phones, iPads, or laptops.

Providing time during class is the most successful method.

For events, quick “5-question max” surveys are effective.

Use plain language

Multiple ways for feedback including paper surveys, Google Forms, QR codes, verbal comments you jot down, or a quick phone or voice message.

Example of Form ECFE: Fall 2025

Parent discussion was helpful

Parent educator was welcoming and responsive

Felt respected, included, and comfortable participating

Classroom felt safe and appropriate

ECFE honored family culture

Felt connected to other families

Increased parenting confidence

Child enjoyed ECFE and grew socially/emotionally

Would recommend ECFE

For printable version https://minnesotadcyf.us.engagementhq.com/30434/widgets/108529/documents/75534