Woman engaging with professional development

The Essential 0-5 Survey

Clear. Collaborative. Culture-building.
An energizing, whole-team approach to program improvement.

The Start Early EssentialsAt Start Early, we focus early childhood program improvement efforts on the organization instead of the individual classroom. Why? Research shows that there are essential conditions inside every organization that, when strong, impact child outcomes more than anything else. So we created The Essential 0-5 Survey an evidence-based measurement system that acts as a catalyst for program improvement, building capacity across your whole team so you can see transformative results among staff, families, and children.

The Essential 0-5 Survey uses a straightforward three-step process. First, programs survey their staff and families for insight. Second, they identify areas for improvement across the entire organization, and third, they learn to make incremental changes using evidence-based tools and processes.

This system provides teams with an actionable path forward delivering quick, meaningful changes while establishing a lasting approach to program improvement that results in positive child outcomes.

The Essential 0-5 Survey is Available in Spanish!

All components of The Essential 0-5 Survey are now available in both English and Spanish, including the Family Survey, Teacher Survey, and Data Use & Improvement Toolkit. Start your team’s measurement journey today.

Let's Talk

Having the opportunity to sit down as a team and analyze (root cause) from different perspectives…That was something very valuable about this tool that I just haven’t experienced before.

Teacher 
corner square square circle corner pie circle square

The Essential 0-5 Survey Logo

The Details

What does The Essential Survey include?

The Essential 0-5 Survey is a fully supported professional learning experience. Here’s what comes with the system to ensure your success:

Two Online Surveys

  • Teachers/Staff version and Family version (available in Spanish)

Survey Administration Tools

  • Tools include technical assistance calls, orientation webinar, manual, and online survey response rate monitoring system

Survey Report

  • A customized online, interactive survey report with data visualizations

Program Improvement Toolkit

  • Toolkit includes five, self-guided working sessions to help teams analyze and effectively address survey results to improve program outcomes
  • Start Early-facilitated introductory session for program leaders
  • Start Early-facilitated toolkit working sessions
  • Start Early-moderated virtual peer learning community
  • Technical assistance to support program improvement efforts

Rooted in Research

The 0-5 measurement system is developed and researched in partnership with the University of Chicago and fully aligned with their proven 5Essentials K-12 measurement tool.

The two surveys are proven valid and reliable through rigorous studies.

The toolkit contains evidence-based program improvement tools, including root cause analysis and rapid improvement cycles through plan-do-study-act protocols.

Two girls reading on couch
corner square pie shape-grid
The Essential 0-5 Survey

Resources & News

Learn more about The Essential Survey and access relevant resources.