Overview

More than ever, districts and schools aim to foster fair and inclusive environments for all their students and teach students to understand and navigate diverse environments. In today’s world, all teachers and staff need to develop the capacity to practice inclusion, introduce sensitive topics and facilitate difficult dialogues in the classroom as well as make school a safe place for all students. Reaching these goals requires learning more about students’ experiences with diversity, equity and inclusion at school.

The Tripod DEI survey is designed to capture student perceptions of how diversity, equity and inclusion issues play out in their school. Specifically, the survey measures students’ perceptions of: 1) school commitment to DEI, 2) school climate in general and specific to DEI, 3) integration of DEI into classroom and co-curricular activities, 4) everyday discrimination, and 5) meaningful interactions between social identity groups.

Districts and Schools use the Tripod DEI survey results to:

Disaggregate Student Perceptions and Experiences by Different Social Identities
Diverse student populations are at the center of the survey. Reports disaggregate findings by social identities across a range of groups including but not limited to race, gender, and socioeconomic status. This breakdown allows school principals to pinpoint particular groups of students reporting less than positive experiences and take action to address their needs

Assess School Climate
The Tripod DEI survey is designed to assess a school’s climate, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. It measures the extent to which students experience school as a safe, caring, welcoming, and respectful place that is fair to all students.

Collect Information About School Practices
The survey collects information about practices that integrate, diversity, equity, and inclusion into classroom activities as well as co-curricular offerings.

Foster Dialogue Around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Using data from the Tripod DEI survey, districts can initiate dialogue about the current diversity, equity or inclusion issues at individual schools. With concrete evidence from students, school leaders are in a better position to keep discussions focused on important issues and moving toward action steps.

Assess Baseline Strengths, Identify Areas for Improvement, and Track Progress Related to DEI Efforts
The Tripod dashboard provides a snapshot of a school’s DEI climate and practices that can be used to diagnose and track school-level DEI efforts. Districts can use the DEI survey as a tool for strategic planning and benchmarking.

MEASURES

School Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This measure assesses how much effort the school community puts into addressing issues of difference, fairness and inclusion.

School Climate Overall
This measure assesses the extent to which students experience school as a safe, caring, welcoming, and respectful place.

School Climate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This measure assesses the extent to which students experience school as fair to all students, regardless of their social identity.

Classroom Teaching Supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This measure assesses the extent to which teachers integrate material on different social identities, discuss issues of social inequality, and utilize student-centered teaching methods.

Co-Curricular Activities Supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This measure assesses the frequency with which students participate in school-sponsored events or groups supporting diversity, equity, or inclusion.

Everyday Discrimination by Students
This measure assesses the frequency of students’ experiences of everyday discrimination by students whom they know. Everyday discrimination includes being treated with less respect or being insulted, threatened, or bullied.

Everyday Discrimination by Teachers
This measure assesses the frequency of students’ experiences of everyday discrimination by their teachers.

Meaningful Interactions Across Difference
This measure assesses the frequency with which students share personal feelings or have an honest discussion outside of class with students from a different social identity group.