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The school has a safe, civil, healthy and intellectually stimulating learning
environment. Students feel respected and connected with the staff and are
engaged in learning. Instruction is personalized and small learning
environments increase student contact with teachers.
INDICATORS:
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Increases in student's bonding to school (opportunities, recognition, skills).
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There is a warm and friendly atmosphere.
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There is a reduction in discipline referrals (number, severity).
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Test scores are improving (norm and criterion-referenced).
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There is low staff turnover.
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Students and teachers are listening to others; respectful and courteous.
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Students take personal responsibility for their learning and behavior.
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Each student is supported by an adult advocate.
RESOURCES:
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NCCSR Publications. Bookmark. November
2001. Improving School Climate
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Every Child
Learning: Safe and Supportive Schools
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Policy
Brief 23, Class Size Reduction: Lessons Learned from Experience
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Add It Up: Using Research to Improve
Education for Low-Income and Minority Students.
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Class Size and
Students At Risk; Instructional Practice and Student Behavior
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Social Development Research Group, U
of W., David Hawkins and Richard Catalano
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National Resource Center for Safe Schools;
National Mentoring Center
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School Mental Health Project, Howard
Adelman and Linda Taylor
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Committing to Class-Size Reduction
and Finding the Resources to Implement It: A Case Study of Resource
Reallocation
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Adelman, H. and Taylor, L. (1999) New Directions in Enhancing Educational
Results: Policymaker's Guide to Restructuring Student Support Resources to
Address Barriers to Learning, The Center for Mental Health in Schools, UCLA,
Los Angeles.
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Brandon. R. (2000). Impact of Peer Substance Use on Middle School Performance
in Washington, Washington Kids Count, Human Services Policy Center, Evans
School of Public Affairs, Seattle, WA: University of Washington.
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Cotton, K. (1995). Research You Can Use to Improve Results. Alexandria, VA:
ASCD and Portland, OR: NWREL. See chapter 2, Management and Organization.
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DePorter, B., Reardon, M. and Singer-Nourie, S. (1999). Quantum Teaching:
Orchestrating Student Success. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. See chapter 4,
Orchestrating a Supportive Environment; chapter 9, Orchestrating Life Skills.
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Dryfoos, J. G. (1998). Full-Service Schools: A Revolution in Health and Social
Services for Children, Youth, and Families. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass
Education Series.
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Dryfoos, J. G. (1998). Safe Passage: Making It Through Adolescence in a Risky
Society. New York: Oxford University Press.
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Elias, M. J. et. al. (1997). Promoting Social and Emotional Learning.
Guidelines for Educators. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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Freiberg, J. (Ed.) (1999). School Climate: Measuring, Improving and Sustaining
Healthy Learning Environments. New York: The Falmer Press.
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Hawkins, J. D. (1999). Preventing Crime and Violence Through Communities That
Care, European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 7, 443-458.
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Hawkins, J. D., Catalano, R. F., Kosterman, R., Abbott, R., and Hill, D. G.
(1999). Preventing Adolescent Health-Risk Behaviors by Strengthening Protection
During Childhood. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 153(3),
226-239.
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Irvin, J. L. (Ed.) (1997). What Current Research Says to the Middle Level
Practitioner. Columbus, OH: National Middle School Association. See section II,
Teaching/Learning.
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Johnson, D. W. and Johnson, R. T. (1995). Reducing School Violence through
Conflict Resolution. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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Kohn, A. (1996). Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community. Alexandria,
VA: ASCD.
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Kushman, J. (Ed.) (1997). Look Who's Talking Now: Student Views of Learning in
Restructuring Schools. Portland. OR: Regional Educational Laboratory Network by
the Restructuring Collaborative.
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NASSP. (1996). Breaking Ranks. Changing an American Institution. Report of
NASSP in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching on the high school of the 21st century. Alexandria, VA: NASSP. See
chapter Three. School Environment. Creating a Climate Conducive to Teaching and
Learning.
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Payne, R. K. (1998). A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Baytown, TX: RFT
Publishing Co.
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Starkman, N. et. al (1999). Great Places to Learn: How Asset-Building Schools
Help Students Succeed. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.
See
http://www.search-institute.org/
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Stockard, J. and Mayberry, M. (1992). Effective Educational Environments.
Newbury Park, CA: Corwin Press, Inc. See chapter 2. School and Classroom
Climates; chapter 3, School Resources and School and Classroom Size.
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