School Climate: Why It Matters, How It's Measured, and What We Can Do About It

Understanding and evaluating a school's climate is one key to school improvement. It's a term that refers to the learning conditions and the social, emotional, and physical environment of a school. The climate of a school affects its students' health and academic performance.This webinar showcases new research showing why school climate matters for all types of schools, and describe how it can be measured and what can be done to improve it at the school level to make it better.This webinar focuses on:The results of a new California Comprehensive Center at WestEd study that powerfully demonstrates the connection between school climate and academic success, taking into account school demographics to identify schools that "beat the odds" to obtain higher test scores than would be predicted.How school climate is measured and reported in CaliforniaPractitioner perspectives on how schools can engage in meaningful school climate improvementThe findings and strategies discussed in this California-based study can apply to schools and districts across the nation.The webinar is especially designed for administrators in state and local education agencies and school principals, counselors, and teacher leaders engaged in the process of school improvement