Whole Child Education

A web-based portal designed to support capacity building and sustainable school climate reform. The School Climate Resource Center (SCRC) is an interactive, web-based portal designed to support capacity building and sustainable school climate improvement efforts. The SCRC includes a school climate implementation road map, learning modules, best practices, connect – a Social forum, school climate standards, and general information about school climate.

The NSCC School Climate Improvement Model outlines a series of tasks and challenges that research (from school reform in general, prosocial education, community schooling, risk prevention and health-mental health promotion) suggests needs to shape an effective (i) planning and preparation process; (ii) assessment; (iii) understanding assessment findings and action planning; (iv) implementing the action plan; and, (v) beginning the continuous process of school climate process anew.

In July 2011, The National School Climate Center (NSCC) completed a 50-state policy scan on state school climate and anti-bullying policies to better understand the current state policy infrastructure supporting the development of positive school climates. This policy brief examines the current status of state policies on school climate and anti-bullying policies, and provides policy examples and recommendations for policymakers, districts, schools and school climate advocates to consider.

Building on the National School Climate Council’s consensually developed definition of “school climate” and a “positive and sustained school climate” this school climate brief describes how the Council’s consensually developed a definition of the school climate improvement process.

This 2012 Brief updates National School Climate Center’s 2011 report State Policies on School Climate and Bully Prevention Efforts: Challenges and Opportunities for Deepening State Policy Support for Safe, Supportive and Civil Schools (PDF). This Brief provides a summary of State level: (i) anti-bullying legislation; (ii) school climate policies; (iii) funding trends; (iv) disciplinary practice trends; and (v) federally supported school climate efforts.

This guide, a companion to the National School Climate Standards (PDF), identifies quality practices in school climate that can lead to student achievement and success; various policy options that encourage, support and reward implementation and sustainability of a positive school climate; and strategies to ensure alignment of quality practice and supportive policies based on research and evidence of practice. Finally, the guide identifies frameworks, tools (specific instruments schools can use to measure and improve school climate), resources and responsibilities of district policymakers and education leaders.

The Center and the National School Climate Council developed School Climate
Standards to support schools, districts, and states in effectively aligning education
policy with practice. The school climate improvement model is designed to support
K-12 schools in actualizing these standards.  Over 20 national organizations –
including ASCD – have endorsed the Standards.
 

The National Summer Learning Association’s Research in Brief series profiles key studies about summer learning and highlights the findings in easy-to-understand language. These briefs can help inform the choices that parents, program providers and policymakers make when selecting and designing summer programs for youth. This Research in Brief issue provides research findings on what children face once the school doors close for the summer. To succeed in school and life, children and young adults need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills. This is especially true during the summer months. All young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. 

The National Summer Learning Association’s Research in Brief series profiles key studies about summer learning and highlights the findings in easy-to-understand language. These briefs can help inform the choices that parents, program providers and policymakers make when selecting and designing summer programs for youth. This Research in Brief issue provides research findings on what children face once the school doors close for the summer. For some, it’s a world of interesting vacations, music lessons, and library trips. For others without enriching summertime opportunities, the break can lead to serious academic consequences—and the disparity can be dramatic.

The National Summer Learning Association’s Research in Brief series profiles key studies about summer learning and highlights the findings in easy-to-understand language. These briefs can help inform the choices that parents, program providers and policymakers make when selecting and designing summer programs for youth. This Research in Brief issue provides research findings on summertime child weight gain and describes what this research means for children and society as a whole.