- When students learn and educators work in an environment that is safe, supportive, and connected, students and adults are more likely to develop the social and emotional competencies they need to be successful. Many states use SEL as a core strategy to improve school climate. The CSI recommends that state working groups provide guidance on how educators can intentionally create a positive learning environment.
CASEL
The CASEL District Resource Center’s section on integration includes extensive guidance and tools for creating a supportive and welcoming school climate and culture. https://drc.casel.org/integration/
EXTERNAL
Education Commission of the States: K-12 School Safety. The brief offers a comprehensive look at K-12 school safety policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (February 2019) NEW
Learning Policy Institute: Educating the Whole Child: Improving School Climate to Support Student Success. How to provide all children with a sense of safety and belonging. (September 2018) NEW
AIR: Best Practices, Strategies, and Recommendations for Improving School Climate and Culture. Strategies, best practices, and recommendations for school climate from 15 unique sources. Useful in identifying specific programs to improve school climate and culture.
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Links to Other Resources
Foundational Support
Frameworks & Competencies
Vision & Communications
Policy & Funding
Adult SEL
Culture & Climate
Equity
Professional Learning
Student SEL
Integration
Teacher Practices
Implementation
Programs
Continuous Improvement
Assessment
AIR: The Intersection of School Climate and Social and Emotional Development. A deep dive into SEL’s role in school climate, including SEL frameworks, needs of schools, and measurement. You can use this resource if you are interested in the natural alignment between school climate and SEL programs.AIR: Measuring School Climate. A review of school climate evaluation systems as a method of assessing school principal performance employing school climate surveys in a novel way.
AIR: Ten Key Ideas for Social Emotional Learning School Climate. Useful if you are seeking actionable steps to build a foundation of mutual support for SEL and school climate.
National School Climate Council: National School Climate Standards. Five standards with indicators and subindicators to improve and promote positive school environments.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: School Climate and Social and Emotional Learning: The Integration of Two Approaches. A discussion of the mutually beneficial relationship between supportive structures of SEL and school climate. Helpful if you want to integrate SEL and school climate efforts to support your school or district.
STATE EXAMPLES
California: Positive School Climate Webpage. Web-based resources that can be helpful in identifying examples of how school climate and academics interact on a state level.
Colorado: Measuring School Climate: A Toolkit for Districts and Schools. A step-by-step guide for schools or districts seeking instructions on how to begin to measure school climate.
Connecticut Model School Climate Policy. Outlines a streamlined school climate improvement policy for all districts.
Michigan: Connecting SEL to Michigan’s School Improvement Framework. Guidance on how to integrate SEL into classroom climate (see page 21).
Ohio School Climate Guidelines. Nine guidelines for exceptional school climates with benchmarks for district action.
