Today marks the launch of the third annual school learning environment survey through which the DOE aims to hear from 1.5 million New Yorkers -- parents, students, teachers, and other schools professionals. Students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to make their opinions known, as are parents and educators citywide. The surveys inform each school's annual Progress Report (learning environment counts for 15 percent of the grade) and are useful to direct change and improvements at individual schools, according to those at the DOE. Surveys will come home from school in bright green envelopes (for secondary, middle and high school students) or be delivered by mail.

Building on a strong online response in 2008 and on steadily increasing participation since 2007, the DOE encourages people to respond electronically, either from personal computers (at home, work, or school) or from public-access free computers at the city's libraries. To see how your child's school did last year -- or how it stacks up compared to other schools -- check out DOE's Survey Quest, a new feature this year.

Nearly 500 schools opted for paperless surveys for students and teachers this year, a move that the DOE says will save more than a quarter-million sheets of paper. Compressing the survey from last year's two-page, 8x14 format to 2009's single sheet translates to major resource conservation as well: According to the DOE's press release, that's the e-equivalent of six tons of paper -- and a whole forest or two full of trees.