This three day institute is designed to support school teams and individuals developing school climate improvement plans to promote safe and civil schools that support positive youth development, democratic school communities, student learning and achievement. The institute is organized around a process model of school climate improvement based on measurement and focused change and the use of evidence-based practices. Sessions will cover both the process model and the kinds of practices that have been found to effectively promote safe and civil schools.
The Institute will provide important research-based guidelines and resources for school teams and individuals to reflect on current practice and develop new plans to promote safe and civil schools, and to measure and improve school climate. Research shows that when schools engage in these processes over time, student achievement, civic engagement and positive youth development significantly increases and school violence decreases.
For past attendees: This summer's institute will be of additional value to past attendees. Building on the same model of school climate improvement, it provides an even richer array of sessions on core practices to promote safe and civil schools, including detailed guidelines on how to promote a helpful code of conduct, methods of infusing social, emotional and ethical learning into existing curriculum, promoting "upstander" behavior and adult social emotional learning, and aligning policy with practice. It provides a series of new tools to support effective school climate measurement and sustaining implementation efforts.
Throughout the Institute, two fundamental questions are asked:
- In what ways are we already using these strategies and practices in our classrooms and/or schools?
- What can we do to enhance our efforts in these areas?
Specifically, participants will learn about:
- Recent research and best practices in social, emotional, ethical, and civic education.
- A continuous process for measuring and improving school climate.
- Classroom-based strategies and activities that further develop students' core social, emotional, ethical and intellectual abilities.
- Systemic strategies and crisis preparedness plans that foster a climate for learning and safety.
- Action planning that builds on your school's strengths, needs and goals.
Prior to attending the Institute, members will receive readings, resources and a series of questions to consider related to your school's climate, practices, mission and goals that will support reflection and action planning at the institute.
What to expect at the Institute?
Institute sessions are varied and interactive. They include full-group meetings and breakout sessions in which participants have the opportunity to work in small groups and can learn about what to do, how to do it and how to get help.
Who should attend?
Administrators, staff, teachers, parent liaisons, community leaders, and school-based mental health professionals who work in K through 12 in public, parochial and independent schools. While individuals will benefit from attending the institute, schools are encouraged to think about sending teams of 3-5 members, representing various roles in the school. This will support the transition from individual learning to action planning at the school level.
How the Institute will benefit you and your school?
- Learn from current research what you can do to measure and improve school climate
- Work with tools/resources to develop skills that can be used in your school
- Develop preliminary action plans to enhance current instructional, systemic and crisis preparedness plans
- Develop strategies to align state and district policy with school practice
- Earn continuing education and (optional) academic credit.
- Connect with local and national colleagues to support individual learning, networking and school improvement practice