Virginia School Safety Survey Instructions

In this survey, you will be asked a series of questions about safety conditions in your school/school division. The responses you provide to the questions asked in this survey should reflect conditions in your school/school division during the 2019 – 2020 school year.

Preparation for the survey

In addition to reading these survey instructions, we strongly recommend that you utilize the School Guidance document before you begin the actual survey. This document allows you to collect data make any necessary inquiries in order to respond to survey questions for which you do not routinely know the answers.

Technical Issues

Survey Access- The 2020 Safety Survey will be available August 3, 2020
If you are unable to access the survey after entering the survey password, you will need to take the following steps to allow the DCJS server to place cookies on your computer (these instruction are written for those using Internet Explorer):

  1. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools --> Internet Options --> Privacy tab.
  2. Click on the "Edit" button (depending on your version, the button might say "Sites").
  3. Enter "dcjs.virginia.gov" in the "Address of Web Site:" field and click "Allow".
  4. Click "Ok" and "Ok" again.
  5. Finally, close your browser and then reopen it to the survey website. Your browser should now be properly configured.

If you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer and you do not know how to allow the DCJS server to place cookies on your computer, you may request assistance by sending an e-mail to the DCJS Webmaster. Be sure to note the name of the browser that you are using in the e-mail.

Saving the Survey
Each time you select "Save and Continue" the survey will save your responses. be sure you return to the survey utilizing the same computer and browser to access your previous answers. 

Completing the school survey typically takes 20 - 30 minutes. You can reduce error and minimize the time it takes to complete the survey by utilizing the Guidance document before starting the actual survey.

Printing a Copy of the Survey
After you have answered all the questions in the survey, you will receive a summary of your responses.

  1. Click on "Download” at the top right of this page.
  2. A printable version of your survey responses will appear.
  3. This can be saved or printed.

Response formats

The responses you provide to the questions in this survey will be presented in various standard survey formats, briefly described below.

Open-Ended Response:

For some questions, you will be asked to respond by typing your answer in a text box. Using your mouse, click inside the box, then type your answer as instructed. For some questions, you may be given specific instructions such as “enter numeric response” or “use a three-digit format”.

Forced Choice Response:

For many of the survey questions, you will be asked to choose your response from a list of possible responses. Some questions ask you to respond “yes” or “no”, others to “select one” response from a list of possible responses, and others to “select all that apply” from a list of responses. Some questions offer the option of checking “other” as a response. If you choose “other”, you will be provided with text box where you will briefly describe your “other” response in an open-ended format.

Contingency Questions:

There are some questions in the survey that, depending on your response, may lead you to another, related question. The survey will automatically take you to the next related question and requires no specific action from you.

Other items

De-selecting an Answer
If you wish to change your response to a question, follow the instructions for each type of response format:

Open-ended - delete the text no longer wanted (using backspace or highlight text and delete) then type in the desired text.

Forced choice - “yes or no,” & “select one” - check the desired response and the old response will automatically be deleted 

“select all that apply” - to “deselect” a response, click on the selected response box again and the “check” mark will be deleted

Return to a previous page to check or change response
Use the “back” button at the bottom of the survey page to return to a previous page of the survey to check or change a response. Then use the “next” button to return back to where you were. You will not lose the responses you’ve already provided.

Support links
Throughout the survey and various documents found on this web site, you will encounter color underlined text. By clicking on this text, another box will appear and will link you to items on this web site that should provide explanation about the linked item or take you to another destination.

Problems?

Should you have any questions about this survey or are experiencing a technical problem, please contact Nikki Wilcox at 804.786.3923 or Shellie Evers at 804.678-8993.