From January through March of 2022, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) jointly administered the 2022 Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions (the Virginia School Survey) to classroom instructors and staff in Virginia public schools serving grades 9 through 12. The survey was also administered to students in grades 9 through 12; DCJS reported these results separately on the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety website. The Virginia School Survey represents the continued partnership that meets DCJS’s legislative mandate to conduct a secondary school (grades 6 through 12) climate survey and VDOE’s legislative mandate to conduct a working conditions survey of all licensed school personnel.

Results from the Virginia School Survey provide actionable information to school division leaders and principals to ensure all students and staff have access to a healthy and positive school and work environment. Nearly all eligible schools participated in the 2022 survey administration, with response rates above 60 percent for classroom instructors and for the first time, a staff response rate over 55 percent.

The 2022 survey results indicate that classroom instructors and staff report positive perceptions of global climate and working conditions. The data indicate that 63.7 percent of classroom instructors and 75.6 percent of staff agree or strongly agree that their school is a good place to work and learn. Despite these positive perceptions, classroom instructors more often endorsed that working conditions had worsened (32.4 percent) compared to become better (13.6 percent). Although both classroom instructors and staff report continued challenges throughout the pandemic, to include having sufficient resources to make up learning loss (mean response of 3.80 for classroom instructors, and 4.29 for staff on a six-point scale), they report maintaining strong, positive relationships with their students (mean response of 4.96 for classroom instructors, and 4.98 for staff).

Questions were added to the survey this year to address topical issues around educator burnout and well-being. Classroom instructors report experiencing substantial mental health symptoms, with 57.5 percent indicating that they are experiencing burnout, 44.4 percent are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, while 57.1 percent report having symptoms of depression. Overall, 76.6 percent of classroom instructors and 82.8 percent of staff intend to continue their employment at their current school.

While state-level results trend positive, disaggregated survey results also indicate that certain demographic groups may experience climate and working conditions differently. Classroom instructors and staff identifying as male, female, and Asian perceived their working conditions most positively compared to other race and gender identities. By contrast, those who identify their gender as non-binary or their race as other report perceived their environment least positively compared to other genders and race or ethnicities. VDOE continues to work with educational leaders to review and develop action plans based on shared, school-level results.

Looking ahead, DCJS and VDOE continue to co-administer the Virginia School Survey during the 2022-2023 school year, focusing on school climate among middle school students (typically grades six, seven, and eight) and working conditions among elementary and middle school classroom instructors and staff.