A pulse survey is a brief, frequent questionnaire (typically 5-10 questions) administered regularly—bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly—to capture real-time feedback on specific topics. In education, pulse surveys check in on student experience, measuring belonging, safety, engagement, and satisfaction throughout the year rather than once annually.

The "pulse" metaphor captures the approach: just as checking a pulse reveals current vital signs, pulse surveys provide ongoing indicators of school climate health. Unlike comprehensive annual surveys that ask 50+ questions once per year, pulse surveys ask fewer questions more frequently, reducing survey fatigue while increasing timeliness and actionability of data.

Research shows pulse surveys offer significant advantages: higher response rates due to brevity, real-time data enabling immediate intervention, ability to track trends over time, and reduced burden on respondents. For schools, pulse surveys reveal seasonal patterns (November engagement dips, February morale challenges), measure intervention effectiveness (did the new advisory program improve belonging?), and identify at-risk students before they disenroll.

Effective pulse surveys rotate focus areas while maintaining core questions for trend tracking, use age-appropriate language and scales, and most importantly, demonstrate visible action on feedback so students trust their input matters.