Inclusive and Safe School Climates: The “Secret Sauce” of Better Youth Experiences in School (Part 1)

by Lisa Graham-Donato

What is “School Climate”?

The National School Climate Center (NSCC) defines school climate as the “quality and character of school life” which is based on the “patterns of students’ parents’ and school personnel’s experience of school life.” Climate is distinguishable from culture though in important ways. As NYKids colleague Dr. Hal A. Lawson and NYKids Director Dr. Kristen C. Wilcox explained in their recent Education Sciences article recapping NYKids research over the past two decades, climate refers to The “here and now atmosphere” in a school, while culture refers to the norms, values, and beliefs that inform how and what people do.

Why is School Climate so Important?

School climate is linked with a range of positive outcomes for students and their families as well as staff members. For youth, a positive school climate is closely linked to academic performance. As Shindler and colleagues write, “Research has shown that the quality of the school climate may be the single most predictive factor in any school’s capacity to promote student achievement.”

School climate is related to students’ social and emotional health including self-esteem, emotional well-being, and mental health. Due to its significance, maintaining a positive school climate also reduces student absenteeism, suspensions, and occurrences of substance abuse.

School Climate Policy

Over recent years, policymakers have recognized the importance of school climate and developed policy initiatives to improve the overall climate of schools.

In New York State, The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) which took effect in 2012, was created to further improve school climates and address student safety. This legislation directs public schools to provide a safe environment free from bullying, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and taunting. DASA included educating students on topics like citizenship, civility, and tolerance.

At the federal level, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), initiated in 2019, focused on “improving school climate in economically challenged schools to build healthy, supportive, and safe learning environments.”  ESSA also emphasized the need to address students’ mental health and social emotional learning (SEL) through trauma-informed practices.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) provides educators and the public with resources on mental health issues and social emotional learning. These resources serve to improve school climate by supporting students’ wellbeing and self-awareness. When students understand how their actions affect others, they can make better decisions and reduce exclusionary discipline. In addition, SEL promotes belongingness by building stronger relationships both among student peers and between students and educators.

School Climate in NYKids Research

NYKids’ research on positive outlier schools – those which have demonstrated statistically better-than-predicted youth outcomes – has demonstrated the importance of positive school climate.

In one study of seven secondary schools, our team found that positive outlier schools cultivated a positive school climate by encouraging collaborative and collegial relationships among staff and with students and their families. These relationships promoted an inclusive school climate by valuing the voices and input of all staff members and students of diverse backgrounds.

At the elementary level, NYKids identified several characteristics related to school climate which contributed to improved outcomes among English learners in six schools across New York State. These schools demonstrated school climates where students felt safe and welcome and educators utilized processes and practices that support advocacy for English learners and their families.

School Climate in One of New York’s Safest Schools

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our series written by Dr. David Hurst, Deputy Superintendent of Bethlehem Central School District, identifies as one of the safest school districts in New York State. What strategies do Bethlehem leaders and educators use to maintain a safe school and positive climate?

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