New York State's Plan to Promote School Climate

What is School Climate?

School climate is..."the way school culture affects a child's sense of safety and acceptance, and consequently is a critical determinant of their ability to focus on the task of learning."

Dessel, A. (2010) Prejudice in schools: promotion of an inclusive culture and climate. Education and Urban Society, 42(4), 407-429. 

Why Measure School Climate?

Research suggests that:

•  The quality of the school climate may be the single most predictive factor in any school's capacity to promote student achievement;

• If we want achievement gains, we need to begin by improving the school climate.

Shindler, J., Jones, A.D., Taylor, C., Cardenia, H. (2016). The school climate-student achievement connection: If we want achievement gains, we need to begin by improving the climate. Journal of School Administration Research and Development 1(1), 9 - 16. 

New York State's Plan to Promote School Climate

To promote, measure and improve school climate, schools and school districts take the following steps:

• Adopt a school climate framework (e.g., Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Restorative Practices, Trauma-Sensitive Practices);

• Establish a Community Engagement Team;

• Administer the USDE School Climate Surveys to students, parents, and school personnel:

• Analyze Survey Results and other pertinent data (e.g., chronic absenteeism data, school violence index, suspension data) with the Community Engagement Team: and 

• Create and Action Plan with the Community Engagement Team to address areas of need. 

From "Promoting Healthy School Climates" 
at the Meeting of the Board of Regents
November 13, 2017



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