First Cont act Survey FAQs
Who completes the survey?
The First Contact Survey is completed by the primary educator of each AA-AAS student in your state.
How long will it take?
Average completion time is less than 15 minutes.
When does the primary educator complete the survey?
Primary educators may complete the survey any time between November 1, 2012 and May 1, 2013.
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The survey window is designed to meet the testing window for as many partner states as possible.
Each state has the flexibility to distribute the participation memo when your unique testing window
opens or at a time most convenient for your teachers.
You do not have to send the communication to your educators on November 1.
The DLM team will provide periodic reminders regarding participation and the survey closing date.
Is this a pilot survey?
The 2012-2013 First Contact Survey is the full-scale survey, not a pilot.
Is this an annual survey?
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At this time, the DLM project has not requested that educators complete the survey annually.
Any use of the First Contact Survey in subsequent years is yet to be determined.
What is the purpose of the survey?
The purpose of the survey is to:
1. Gain in-depth information regarding the AA-AAS population.
2. Inform the assessment system.
o Understand how AA-AAS students currently access computers and which assistive
technology devices are most prevalent.
o Gain a clear understanding into the variability of students who take the AA-AAS.
How will the data be used?
The survey data will impact the DLM assessment program in the following ways:
1. It will help with task development by providing an understanding of which assistive technology
devices are most prevalent. This will ultimately inform how each student interacts with the
online assessment system and each technology-enhanced task type.
2. Survey results will help the DLM team design our Personal Needs Profile (PNP) by:
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Defining the variables that will be included on the PNP.
Potentially pre-populating the PNP so response burden is reduced for educators if the
survey is issued in the future.
Where is the First Contact Survey link?
The survey is in a web-based data collection instrument. Links are provided via email to each state-level
contact who, in turn, forwards the information to district-level personnel for distribution. If you receive
an email and link from your state department, click the link to be taken directly to the survey.
What information is required to complete the survey?
Before beginning the survey, have this information handy.
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The student’s unique state identifier (which allows the student’s First Contact data to merge
into the assessment system).
The educator is asked to report:
o Student demographics
o Sensory needs
o Sensory aids
o Mobility
o Mobility needs
o Computer access
o Assistive technology
o AAC devices
o Current level of communication o Health or behavior issues impacting
instruction/assessment
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The educator is asked to rate the student’s current level of skill with regard to:
o Receptive/expressive language
o Reading
o Mathematics
o Writing
o Attention to instruction
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While some questions are mandatory, the survey contains skip-logic. Therefore, only questions
that are applicable to the current student rating will appear.
o For example, questions related to a student’s use of Braille will only appear for a child
who was classified by the educator as “Blind or low vision”.
What if a primary educator cannot complete the survey?
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They should contact their local district supervisor so another educator can be assigned.
Information on each student is required prior to administration of the AA-AAS.