ABSTRACT
Perceptions data are important to continuous school improvement because they can tell us what students, staff, and parents are thinking about the learning organization, and answer the continuous school improvement question, "How do we do business?". Staff values and beliefs, most often assessed through a questionnaire, tell a staff if a vision needs to be created or revisited, if team building or specific professional learning is necessary, and if there is enough cohesiveness to implement change. Perceptions can also show where the deep changes are happening in the school with respect to staff values and beliefs. A schoolwide self-assessment, such as the Continuous Improvement Continuums, can provide an overview of where the staff believes the school is on the measures that make a difference for continuous school improvement. Questionnaires are an excellent way to assess perceptions because they can be completed anonymously and re-administered to assess the changes in perceptions over time.
