Survey Format

Nine (IX) Survey Sections
Survey Section Details
  1. Former Student Demographics (Q1-10)
 Pre-populated information.
  1. Pre-survey Questions (Q11-13)
 Indicate the contact attempt date, time, and who is conducting the interview. 
  1. Connect with Survey Respondent
 Sample phone scripts for beginning the survey with a former student or designated family member. 
  1. Survey Respondent Information (Q14-15)
 Indicate if you reached the former student or designated family member after three contact attempts.
  1. Postsecondary Employment Questions (Q16, 16a-f)
  2. Postsecondary Education Questions (Q17, 17a-d)
  3. Agency Connections Questions (Q18, 18a)
 Ask survey questions about former students' postsecondary employment, education, and agency connections.
  1. Additional Comments
 Include notes about contact attempts or other details from survey responses (optional).
  1. End Survey
 Thank respondent and submit survey as complete.

Display Logic

There are questions in Sections IV-VII that may or may not appear depending on how the respondent answers earlier questions. Ask the questions as they appear on the screen as you go. You may see different questions the first few times you conduct the survey.

For example, Question 16 asks if the former student was employed in the last year. If the answer is Yes, then Questions 16a-f appear, asking about employment dates, hours, and wages. If the answer is No, the survey prompts you to skip to Question 17.

Follow-up Questions (+)

  • Six supplemental questions: 16a+, 16b+, 16c+, 17+, 17d+, 18a+
  • Provide additional valuable data
  • Use your judgement when it comes to asking these questions

There are up to six display-logic questions that are not required by the state. We call them follow-up questions, and they’re indicated by a plus sign.

These follow-up questions provide the opportunity for valuable “street-level” data that can be helpful when taking a deeper look at your student outcomes after the survey is over. Please keep in mind that if, while you’re conducting the survey, you sense that the respondent is losing energy or focus, you can use your best judgment as to whether or not you want to ask these follow-up questions.

Question Timeframe

  • 12 months from high school exit date (see Question #5)
  • Not necessarily current activities

One more general note about survey questions: remember that the Post-School Survey is a follow-up survey. The questions you’re asking are about what former students have been doing in the year since they left high school, or 12 months from their exit date.

The former student’s exit date is listed in the demographics section of the survey (Question 5). This becomes a consideration if you’re conducting the survey in later months, like September or October, or if the former student left school earlier in the year. If the former student left school in January 2024 then the question timeframe is January 2024 to January 2025. You may need to emphasize that while you’re asking the questions.

Next – Using Context and Conversation