What is school climate? School climate is the learning environment created through the interaction of human relationships, physical setting and psychological atmosphere. Perkins, 2006

Reading Writing Arithmetic Pre-1960’s Reading Writing Arithmetic Social Services Health Services Special Ed Post-1960’s Standardized Tests

Reading WritingArithmetic Social Services Special Education ESL Health Services Psychological Services School Readiness/Early Childhood Services Food Programs After-School Care Programs Supplementary Educational Services Standardized Tests

Community Faith-based Institutions Government Standardized Tests Reading Writing Arithmetic Social Services Special Education ESL Health Services Supplementary Educational Services After-School Care Programs Food Programs School Readiness/Early Childhood Services Psychological Services Local Business Non-Profit Agencies

Affective/Cognitive Trust, Respect & Caring Safety Bullying Racial Self- Concept Literacy Numeracy Science knowledge Language composition

Study Purpose To provide a description of teacher, student and administrator perceptions of climate in urban schools – Where We Learn 2007 – Where We Teach

Where We Teach Teachers & Administrators 12 Urban Districts 10 States 127 Schools 4700 Teachers 267 Building Principals & Assistant Principals

Survey Dimensions Bullying Expectation of Success Influence of Race Professional Climate Parental Involvement Safety Trust, Respect and Ethos of Caring ASC Survey 2006 Version 2.5

Selected Results Most students would not be successful at a community college or university Students at the school are not motivated to learn Teachers at the school care whether or not the students are successful

Lily Eskelsen National Education Association

Selected Results This school is a safe place in which to work Students at this school fight a lot. I would benefit from more PD provided by the district/Teachers at this school would benefit from more PD

John Mitchell American Federation of Teachers

Selected Results I am currently pursuing in- service opportunities to improve myself as an administrator. I actively seek opportunities to help teachers learn new instructional methods Students at this school are capable of high achievement on standardized exams.

Cheryl Riggins National Association for Elementary School Principals

Selected Results Students at this school are capable of high achievement on standardized exams. Students at this school are not motivated to learn. Students in this school will have difficulty with core academic subjects regardless of strength of instruction.

Judith Richardson National Association for Secondary School Principals

Assessing Climate A safe and welcoming learning climate is a prerequisite to high student achievement. School districts need to understand climate issues, conduct assessments, pass policies, and take steps to make improvements where necessary.

Recommendations: Bullying Student Identification Board Policies Bullying Prevention

Recommendations: Success High Expectations for Students’ academic and social development

Recommendations: Influence of Race Recognize diversity Develop culturally respectful & sensitive instructional programming

Recommendations: Professional Climate Staff collaboration around learning goals Shared decision-making

Recommendations: Professional Development PD should deepen and broaden content knowledge PD should train professionals to use data

Recommendations: Parental Involvement Engage families as partners Parents/guardians should be active participants

For Future Research Why teachers feel significantly less optimistic about student potential in community college or university Why significant numbers of teachers & administrators hold the view that students are not motivated to learn Why administrators express more confidence in students’ ability to perform on standardized tests Why significant numbers of teachers and administrators believe that students will be successful in their schools because of their race.

NSBA – Council of Urban Boards of Education Dr. Brian K. Perkins, Principal Investigator Contact Information