2006-2007
ELCA Schools and ECE Centers Survey Results
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ELCA Schools and
Early Childhood Ministries collects
summary statistics annually from ELCA schools and early
childhood education (ECE) centers. These data are important for
describing and sharing information about ELCA schools and ECE
centers, including their diverse enrollment and evangelism
opportunities.
The 2006-2007 survey
is the fourth annual survey and this report summarizes primarily
the results from the 2006-2007 survey. A total of 1,758 surveys
were mailed and 750 completed surveys were returned for a 43
percent response rate. This compares to a 45 percent response
rate last year, a 50 percent response rate for the 2004-2005
survey, and a 55 percent response rate for the 2003 2004 survey.
Although the overall response rate decreased again this year,
the Internet response rate increased. There were 466 completed
surveys via the Internet (62%) compared to 284 that completed
surveys using paper (38%). Last year, the Internet response rate
was 58 percent, compared to 21 percent in 2004-2005 and 39
percent in 2003-2004.
A higher Internet
response rate was a high priority for ELCA Schools and Early
Childhood Ministries because of the decreased need for data
entry when the survey is completed via the Internet. This
increase was achieved by using new Internet survey software and
a different mailing system that encouraged survey completion
using the Internet.
Responses came from nearly every state and from Puerto
Rico. On the map [within the report],
the first number in each state represents the total number of
completed surveys received and the second number indicates the
total number of ELCA schools or ECE centers known to be located
in the state. States with the highest number of schools and ECE
centers include Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota, New York,
and Illinois.
There are
significantly more ELCA ECE centers than schools across the
country. Consequently, the majority of responses were received
from ECE centers. Response categories are provided in terms of
enrollment level: in general, Birth - Pre
K enrollment is associated with an ECE center and Grades
K 12 enrollment is associated with a school. Of the 750
completed surveys, 703 were from ECE centers with Birth - Pre
K enrollment and 164 were from schools with K - 12
enrollment. (117 facilities have enrollments from both levels.)
