People are more likely to ignore email from the source that they're unsure of, and many of such types of emails are automatically sent to spam folder where they will never been viewed by the respondent unlike the correspondence sent home from the school by USPS mail which will immediately be opened without question by parent.
Are there other reasons you believe emails might not be the best techniques for soliciting survey responses?
"My son's school employs email to notify parents about everything. They as well send out recorded random message to be on lookout for mailed items, or emails with details. Sometimes sending such random messages is the best manner to get information to parents versus the child bringing home note. We get notifications on our cell phones by text messages as well. This was set up at beginning of school year as possible ways to notify parents. They employ Survey Monkey to send mass surveys to parents. It is quite effective and efficient. I've to say when I get surveys in the mail; I'm more apt to put it off then going ahead and taking emailed survey".
The auto-call systems are very popular in schools today.
How would such tools, along with the emailed surveys, be construed through those without home phones or the internet?
You make good point when you ask "...are the surveys being done?" Taking this one step further, how do you know who is completing the surveys and if some complete it more than once?
Make some ideas for how to make sure your data isn't tainted by multiple or non-requested responses being included. I like the idea of note home to the parents.
However, is there not element of population that may be missed using emails? Discuss for me.