Creating Safe and Supportive
Learning Environments
November 7, 2012
Presentation Goals
• Present Ohio School Climate Guidelines
• Align components of school climate with
coordinated school health objectives
• Offer approaches for institutionalizing
prevention and intervention strategies in Ohio
schools.
School Climate Defined
• School climate
– Refers to the “feel” of the school at the
building and classroom levels
– Reflects the physical and psychological
aspects of the school
– Provides the preconditions necessary for
teaching, learning and coordinated school
health activities.
Caring School Climate
• Values positive
character traits
–
–
–
–
–
Respect
Honesty
Determination
Hard work
Healthy
• Values positive
interpersonal trait
–
–
–
–
–
Helping behaviors
Altruism
Teamwork
Good citizenship
Wellness
School Climate and Positive
Outcomes
• Positive school climate is associated with:
– Better academic achievement
– Higher rates of school attendance among
students
– Higher rates of grade promotion
– Lower levels of students receiving
suspensions/expulsions
– Healthier and Happier students and
staff
School Climate
and Positive Outcomes
• Positive school climate is associated with:
– Increased self-image and self-esteem
– Lower levels of depression, anxiety, and
loneliness
– Students who are less likely to drink alcohol,
smoke tobacco, or use other drugs
– Increased engagement and connectedness
among students and teachers
– Being physically active
School Climate and
Healthy People 2020 Goals
• Create social & physical environments that
promote good health for all
• Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, &
improve the health of all groups
• Promote quality of life, healthy development &
healthy behaviors across all life stages
• Attain high quality, longer lives free of
preventable disease, disability, injury, &
premature death
Asset-Building to Enhance
Climate
• Support
– Other adult relationships
• Young person receives support
from three or more non-parent
adults
– Caring school climate
• School provides a caring,
encouraging environment
• Boundaries and
Expectations
– School boundaries
• School provides clear rules and
consequences
– High expectations
• Teachers encourage the young
person to do well
• Empowerment
– Community values youth
• Young person perceives that
adults in the community value
youth
– Community that sees youth as
resources
• Young people are given useful
roles in the community
– A safe environment
• Young person feels safe at school
Communities That Value Youth
See Them as Resources
• Ways to communicate
this to others
– Engaging them in
reciprocal dialogue
– Involving them in
decision-making
processes
– Getting to know them
on a personal level
– Giving them a role to
play
Components of School
Climate
PHYSICAL
Welcoming and
Conducive to Learning
SOCIAL
Promotes
Communication and
Interaction
Components of
School Climate
AFFECTIVE
Promotes a Sense of
Belonging and SelfEsteem
ACADEMIC
Promotes Learning and
Self-Fulfillment
PHYSICAL
Welcoming and
Conducive to Learning
Physical Environment:
Appropriate Number of
Students
VS.
A child at the front of the classroom at the rural school in Glenarchy near Oakville, July 1946
Physical Environment:
Orderly and Organized
VS.
Physical Environment and
Examples of Healthy People
2020 Objectives
Healthy & Safe Physical Environment
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Air quality
Hazardous materials & pesticides
Safe drinking water
Safe Routes to School
Daily Physical Health Activities
Nutritious foods and beverages
Tobacco –free environment
Drug Free Schools
Anti Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
Physical Environment:
Safe and Comfortable Place
VS.
Safe Environment with Clear
Boundaries and Expectations
• All students have the right to feel safe
• Role of adults = ensure safety at school
• Students are better able to learn and thrive
in classrooms with clear:
– Rules
– Behavioral expectations
– Boundaries
SOCIAL
Promotes
Communication and
Interaction
Social Environment
Encourage Positive
Communication
Foster Positive
Relationships
Share DecisionMaking
Responsibility
Develop Interpersonal
Skills
Social Environment and
Relationship Building Techniques
•
•
•
•
•
Being Available
Listening
Teaching the Basics
Being Positive
Intervening
• Having Fun
• Remembering
Personal Events and
Holidays
• Being ‘Real’
• Being Respectful
Positive and Caring Relationships
With Other Adults
• Associated with:
– better social and
behavioral adjustment
– better school adjustment
– higher levels of internal
motivation
– more resilience
– active engagement at school
– better academic achievement
AFFECTIVE
Promotes a Sense of
Belonging and SelfEsteem
Affective Environment
Reinforcement for Pro-Social,
Positive Behaviors
 Step #1: Define the
behaviors that you
would like to see
continue
 Step #2: Notice the
desired behaviors in
others
 Step #3: Name the
specific behavior that
you reinforcing
 Step #4: Give the
reinforcement
immediately and
enthusiastically
(following the behavior)
 Types of reinforcements
 Sensory (listening to music),
Activity (playing a game),
Edible (healthy snack),
Material (an item),
Token (points),
Social (smile, praise)
ACADEMIC
Promotes Learning and
Self-Fulfillment
Academic Environment
Academic Impact
• Students can’t learn if they are not healthy.
• Absenteeism and truancy become barriers to
academic achievement for students that
aren't healthy.
• Academic and health disparities can be
linked to physical, social and emotional
health.
29
Why Do We Care
Higher
achievement for
all students
Why Do We Care
Students receive
high quality
instruction
aligned with
academic content
standards
Why Do We Care
Students have the
right conditions
and motivation for
learning
Climate Counts – Risk Matters
33
Elements of Positive School
Climate
Identifying students early on who exhibit
warning signs that may lead to violent
behaviors
Ensuring students who are identified get help
they need
School Climate and
Performance Index Score
Average Performance Index Score
120
110
100
90
80
70
Lowest Climate
Medium Climate
Highest Climate
School Climate and
Graduation Rate
100
Average Graduation Rate
95
90
85
80
75
70
Lowest Climate
Medium Climate
Highest Climate
Academics and Physical Activity
• Higher grade‐point average
• Higher scores on standardized tests
• Increased concentration
• Better memory
ACADEMIC
• Improved classroom
behaviors
Promotes
Learning and
Self-Fulfillment
• Reduced school dropout rate
• Greater odds of attending college full‐time
Physical Education and Academic Achievement in Elementary School: Data From the Early Childhood
Longitudinal Study. American Journal of Public Health: April 2008, Vol. 98, No. 4, pp. 721‐727. doi:
10.2105/AJPH.2007.117176
A Systems Approach for
Creating Safe and Supportive
Learning Environments
Comprehensive System of
Learning Supports
Early detection and
intervention with students
experiencing learning and
other problems prevent
costly intensive
interventions later
Comprehensive System of
Learning Supports
Systemic approach for
diagnosing academic and
non-academic needs
Comprehensive
System of
Learning
Supports
Keys for Success
Leadership for
Change
Vision
Create enthusiasm
and commitment to
embrace the common
vision
Keys for Success
Community Partnership
Assessment
Continuous Improvement
Planning – Ohio
Improvement Process
Professional Development
Keys for Success
Implementation
Communications and
Marketing
Monitor and Evaluate
Keys for Success
Best Practices
Programs and
strategies that
are effective in
reaching
process and
program
outcomes
Creating a Supportive Learning
Environment
What can
Collaborate
we do?
“Breaking the
Cycle”
Comprehensive
Action Plan!
Linking with Community
Services Based on Identified Need
Give Credit, Where Credit Is Due…
• Michigan State University
– University-Community Partnerships
• Best Practice Briefs: School Climate and Learning (No. 31, December 2004)
• Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets
• Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs at Miami
University
Cricket Meehan, Ph.D.
• meehandc@muohio.edu
• Healthy People 2020
• www.healthypeople.gov
• Dawn Ayres - Ohio Department of Education
– Dawn.Ayres@education.ohio.gov
• Laura Rooney - Ohio Department of Health
- Laura.Rooney@odh.ohio.gov
• Healthy School Leadership Institute
– Lorain City School District
SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE
LEARNING RESOURCES
education.ohio.gov
Search Key Words:
Safe and
Supportive Learning
A Systems Approach for
Creating Safe and Supportive
Learning Environments
Ohio’s Anti HIB Initiative:
Includes multiple agencies as resources
for the elimination of harassment,
intimidation and bullying in any form.
School and Community
Continuum of Services
School and Community
Continuum of Services
Continuum.oberlinkconsulting.com
Connect with ODE
ohio-departmentof-education
OhioEdDept
Ohio Teachers’
Homeroom
Questions
Thank you for your time.
Jill Jackson, Consultant
Ohio Department of Education
Office for Family and Community Support
jill.jackson@education.ohio.gov