School climate refers to factors that contribute to the tone and attitudes of staff and students in school. Positive school climate is associated with well-managed classrooms and common areas, high and clearly stated expectations concerning individual responsibility, feeling safe at school, and teachers and staff that consistently acknowledge all students and fairly address their behavior.
School connectedness refers to students’ school experiences and their perceptions and feelings about school. This includes feeling that they are a part of the school, that adults at school care about them personally, that their learning matters and is a high priority, that they are close to people at school and have supportive relationships with adults, and that teachers and staff consistently treat them with respect.
School climate is related to school connectedness, because without a positive and welcoming school climate, students are unlikely to experience connectedness. Research has found that the most powerful predictors of school connectedness are related to school climate (e.g., Abbott et al, 1998). Climate can be thought of as external assets (things outside of students that predict, indicate, or promote connectedness) whereas connectedness can be thought of as internal assets (students’ feelings, perceptions, and beliefs).
“The safer and more connected students and teachers are, the better our students do.”
- Sammy Crawford, Kenai Peninsula School Board Member
School districts that are intentionally focusing on both academic and school climate issues are seeing success. Many of them are using AASB’s School Climate and Connectedness Survey (SCCS) to collect data that allows them to target specific aspects of climate and connectedness.
In 2010, 39,000 students and staff in 34 districts took the survey, illustrating the commitment of districts across Alaska to create safe, caring schools and promote supportive youth-adult relationships.
Alaska now has five years of statewide data that show a significant improvement in student perceptions of overall climate and connectedness. Climate and connectedness ratings are associated with higher school-wide proficiency rates in reading, writing and math.