The Foundation For Character Development Home Page

We know that bullying in schools negatively impacts the academic, emotional and physical well-being of students.

Research demonstrates that positive school climate is an essential component to bully prevention and intervention

(Stop Bullying Now, 2011).

Therefore, the Foundation for Character Development (FFCD) has partnered with one of the nation's leading

experts in school climate reform, the National School Climate Center (NSCC), to bring local technical assistance

in assessing school climate, post-assessment data analysis and action-planning to support safer schools in

Colorado.

In 2012, Measuring School Climate: A Tool-kit for District and Schools was authored by a subcommittee of the

Colorado Bullying Prevention Working Group. This guide provides outstanding recommendations on how to reduce

bullying in schools. One of their key recommendations is to measure school climate in a more comprehensive manner

rather than narrowly focusing on measuring bullying behavior.

While we identified several excellent school climate assessment instruments in the toolkit, the (FFCD) has decided to

endorse the (NSCC) Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI). Developed over nine years, the (CSCI) is

a scientifically sound survey tool that has been researched and field-tested in thousands of schools, districts, networks

of schools and also by two State Departments of Education (Ohio and Iowa). Both the American Psychological

Association & U.S. Department of Education’s Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center

has recognized the (CSCI) as a reliable and valid measurement tool.

The (CSCI) provides immediate feedback on how students, parents, school personnel and community members

perceive a school's climate for learning. It is a comprehensive assessment measuring 12 essential dimensions of

school climate in four broad categories:

· Safety (physical/social/emotional)

· Climate for teaching & learning

· Interpersonal relationships (school leadership/staff/students)

· Institutional environment (school connectedness/engagement/physical surroundings)

(NSCC) staff recognized that conducting a school climate assessment is only the first step! Once you have conducted

a scientifically sound school climate assessment, it is also very important to:

· Accurately analyze and interpret survey data

· Report survey data to all key stakeholders

· Engage all key stakeholders (especially students) in determining next steps

· Not use the data to blame but to inform, improve, track progress and celebrate success

(NSCC) & (FFCD) staff can provide expert guidance in pre-survey planning, conducting the assessment phase and

facilitating broad school-wide engagement in the development and implementation of a customized action plan.

Please contact Darlene Faster at 212-707-8799 or visit the NSCC website link for more information: