School Climate: Fostering Student Development

 

     School climate, the quality and character of a school, is the responsibility of all education stakeholders with particular opportunities for school counselors.  The school’s norms, values and expectations support all students feeling socially, emotionally and physically safe, which results in reduced bullying, increased student engagement and enhanced student outcomes.  One of the significant dimensions to school climate is building a strong sense of community among all stakeholders. Research demonstrates when students have a strong connection to their school, including positive relationships with peers and adults, academic achievement increases, behavior improves and dropout rate decreases.

 

     Social inclusion is a critical component to address in achieving these outcomes. Authentic inclusion is not just about what happens in the classroom; it is also about the informal culture of the school and the extent to which the climate of the school is one of high expectations and acceptance for all students. A socially inclusive school climate depends on the adults and students working together to create authentic communities where every gift is valued and every member’s contribution is integrated into a vision for the whole.

 

     Utilizing the latest research on school climate school counselors will develop an understanding of the impact of school climate on individual experiences, equitable social and academic opportunities for all students, risk prevention and health promotion, academic achievement, teacher retention and overall school improvement. Examine the following four dimensions of school climate and corresponding strategies: safety, relationships, teaching and learning and physical environment. 

Learning Outcomes

• Gain an understanding of the characteristics of school climate and how they lead to positive student development.
• Become familiar with strategies and systems utilized by one high school community to create an inclusive school climate that is positive, safe, caring and engaging.
• Examine a set of research-based resources to integrate and improve quality school climates.
• Learn specific strategies you can implement to improve school climate.

 

Reference: The American School Counselor Association