Climate is a necessary though not sufficient contributor to productive, robust learning environments. When done reliably and efficiently, measuring school climate can help improve schools’ vital signs and help state boards of education realize their goals and objectives for the system as a whole. Moreover, because it is as consequential to schools as checking heart rates and blood pressure are to humans, schools should always use climate measures for planning and continuous improvement. School climate data can be used appropriately as a metric for statewide accountability as well.


School Climate and Measurement



Related Content



Also In this Issue

Teacher and boy talking. Image credit: iStock

Why School Climate Matters and What Can Be Done to Improve It

By Linda Darling-Hammond and Jennifer DePaoli

Educators’ abilities to forge strong relationships with students lie at the heart of strong schools.





School Climate and Measurement

By David Osher, Sam Neiman and Sandra Williamson

All schools should be using climate data, which can be used statewide for accountability, too.





African-American teacher reading to school children. Image credit: iStock

Why School Climate Matters for Teachers and Students

By Matthew Kraft and Grace Falken

Teachers in strong climates get better faster, stay longer, and propel their students to greater heights.





Unhappy teen boy in office. Image credit: iStock

School Discipline Reform Is Still Needed, but Is Discipline Policy Still the Solution?

By Kristen Harper

Addressing disparities requires a broader, deeper look at school culture, process, and practice.






Measures of SEL and School Climate in California

By Taylor Allbright and Heather Hough

CORE Districts plumb the possibilities of using holistic measures to improve schools.





Aerial view of crowd connected by vectors. Image credit: iStock

Creating Equitable School Climates

By Randy Ross, Philip Brown and Kori Hamilton Biagas

How states and districts are weaving equity into their efforts to improve climate.





Removing Barriers to LGBTQ Student Safety and Achievement

By Aaron Ridings

Comprehensive protections from bullying and harassment help everyone.





African American father and adorable son building constructor tower. Image credit: iStock

What Learning and Developmental Science Says about Optimal Learning Environments

By Pamela Cantor MD and Nora Gomperts

We know what leads children toward healthy development. We just need to build it.








Featured Items

Image of a black man voting. Credit: Canva

State Education Elections in 2024 Yield Few Shifts

Voters in nine states, three territories, and the District of Columbia elected 64 state board candidates.
Cropped shot of elementary school children using a tablet in class i

Technology in Education

Savvy state leaders will set their sights on ways to broaden access to technology’s benefits, solve problems confronting educators, and protect students against the risks of misuse.
i

Developing Content Standards: A Foundational Task for State Boards

State boards of education typically play a central role in approving academic content standards, though their authority varies by state. This boardsmanship review outlines guiding principles and common processes to help state boards develop high-quality standards.

Upcoming Events

From the States