The state Department of Education wants to know how you think education dollars should be spent throughout the statewide system.

Using an online survey, parents, students and community members can suggest where money should be spent and whether money is being spent wisely.

"We realize that there is only so much money to go around and we want to make sure we are being responsive to what the public believes the priorities should be," said James Brese, the DOE's chief financial officer.

Surveys must be completed online no later than May 31. Results will be compiled and are expected to be posted online by June 30.

The Board of Education adopted a policy in 2006 that requires the DOE to take public comments and concerns into consideration when deciding where its $2-million-plus budget will be spent.

The results of the survey will be applied to the 2009-2011 biennium budget.

Adele Chong, budget director, said last year was the first time such a survey was conducted and it resulted in several new priorities in the DOE's budget.

"Things like math programs for middle schools, more money in the Weighted Student Formula, smaller class sizes. The top five priorities were reported to the board and later adopted," Chong said.

Rather than conduct surveys during community meetings across the state — as the DOE did last year — the department posted the survey online in hope that more people will respond, Chong said.

This year's 11-question survey asks more detailed questions so the DOE can get an idea of who is responding, Chong said.

The main part of the survey asks respondents to indicate what they believe are the top five priorities for public schools. Options include career preparation, arts, supplies and textbooks, computer resources, math skills, preschool education, reading, school safety, smaller class sizes and teacher quality.