Although the core objectives of SASS have remained fairly constant since the first administration in 1987–88, SASS has changed to accommodate emerging issues in elementary and secondary education. Some items have been added, some have been deleted, and some items have been reworded. Also, SASS has added some questionnaires that have been discontinued in later administrations.
During the 1990–91 cycle, NCES worked with the Office of Indian Education to add an Indian School Questionnaire to SASS, and it has remained a part of the SASS ever since. This questionnaire explores the same school-level issues that the Public and Private School Questionnaires explore, allowing comparisons among the three types of schools.
The Student Records Questionnaire, Library Media Center Questionnaire, and Library Media Specialist/Librarian Questionnaire were added in 1993–94. Each of these new questionnaires was administered in public, private, and Indian schools. The Library Media Center Questionnaire was continued in the 1999–2000 and 2003-04 rounds of SASS. The Student Records and Library Media Specialist/Librarian Questionnaires have not been administered since 1993-94.
During the 1999–2000 cycle, a Charter School Questionnaire was administered to all charter schools known to be in operation during the 1998-99 school year. Questionnaires for charter school teachers and principals were also administered. Public charter schools and their staff were incorporated into the public school sector in the 2003-04 SASS. A separate Charter School Questionnaire is not being administered in 2003–04.
