Climate Change: Improving School Climate by Supporting Great Teaching

This report is the fourth in a series that analyzes data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) to determine how this data can be used to support effective high school reform. To read each of the reports in All4Ed’s series on how equitable and effective school discipline policies and equitable access to rigorous and engaging curriculum work together to create a positive school climate, as well as policy recommendations for improving school climate, check out the full Climate Change series, available below.

With schools implementing higher academic standards that require engaging and effective teaching, a new report from All4Ed in partnership with the National Opportunity to Learn Campaign finds that far too many low-income students and students of color do not have access to great teaching that supports a positive school environment.

Citing that teachers do not always have the preparation and support needed to develop these skills, the report offers several federal, state-, and local-level policy recommendations to support the teaching needed to create a positive school climate.

This report was written by Joseph Bishop, PhD, director of policy at the National Opportunity to Learn Campaign; Jessica Cardichon, EdD, senior director of policy and advocacy at All4Ed; and Martens Roc, a policy and advocacy associate at All4Ed.

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Climate Change Series

January 22, 2015

Publication | Data, High Schools, Opportunity to Learn

Climate Change Series: Federal, State, and Local Policy Recommendations for Creating a Positive School Climate

School climate, is connected to students’ engagement in their coursework and, consequently, to their success. All4Ed offers policy recommendations for creating a positive school environment.

August 15, 2013

Publication | Opportunity to Learn

Climate Change: Creating an Integrated Framework for Improving School Climate

Based on data from the Civil Rights Data Collection, schools that struggle most with providing a positive school climate more often disproportionately serve students of color and low-income students.

September 19, 2013

Publication | Opportunity to Learn

Climate Change: Implementing School Discipline Practices That Create a Positive School Climate

Middle and high school students subjected to harsh school discipline policies and practices such as suspensions and expulsions are more likely to disengage from the classroom and coursework and, ultimately, drop out of school.

November 21, 2013

Publication | Opportunity to Learn, Other Priorities

Climate Change: Providing Equitable Access to a Rigorous and Engaging Curriculum

Rigorous and engaging curriculum aligned with college- and career-ready standards fosters positive school climates in which students are motivated to succeed, achievement gaps narrow, and learning and outcomes improve.