School Climate

Get insights into improving school culture and the experiences of students and staff
New York City Department of Education Chancellor David Banks speaks at a press briefing at City Hall in New York City.
New York City Department of Education Chancellor David Banks speaks at a press briefing at City Hall in New York City.
Michael Brochstein/Sipa via AP
School & District Management Q&A Why This K-12 Leader Was 'Incredulous' When Congress Asked Him to Testify
New York City schools Chancellor David Banks' blunt take on appearing before Congress and leading schools in divisive times.
7 min read
Tired schoolboy fell asleep on a class at elementary school.
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Student Well-Being By Some Measures, Students' Well-Being Has Been Stable for a Decade, Study Shows
A Stanford report examined high school students’ well-being, sense of belonging, and engagement over more than a decade.
Lauraine Langreo, June 14, 2024
5 min read
Special Education Video Students With Disabilities 'Have Gotten Their Dignity Back' at This High School
A state partnership involving 16 schools aims to ensure that students with disabilities spend more of their time in mainstream classrooms.
3 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Student Well-Being Opinion What's Behind the Explosion in Student Absenteeism?
Kids aren’t returning to school after COVID. What are the implications for policy and practice?
Rick Hess, June 11, 2024
8 min read
Hands holding smartphone. Thumbs hovering over the lit screen. Red ban symbol over image.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
Student Well-Being To Ban or Not to Ban? Educators, Parents, and Students Weigh In on Cellphones
School community members share opinions on cellphones in schools, describing how the problem should be handled—if at all.
5 min read
Kindergarten students in Washington, D.C. explore various activity centers in their classroom on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
Kindergarten students in Washington, D.C. explore various activity centers in their classroom on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
Allison Shelley/EDUimages
Special Education Video How One School Fosters Belonging for Students With Disabilities
The school transformed what has traditionally been a model of exclusion in U.S. education.
Caitlynn Peetz, May 30, 2024
3 min read
Four high school students work together on an experiment in an AP chemistry class at a high school in Los Angeles, Calif. on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.
Four high school students work together on an experiment in an AP chemistry class at a high school in Los Angeles, Calif. on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.
Allison Shelley/EDUimages
School Climate & Safety Video 3 Steps for Schools to Use Relationships as a 'Prevention Strategy'
Research has shown that strong school relationships can be a prevention strategy for chronic absenteeism, misbehavior, and other challenges.
Libby Stanford, May 29, 2024
7 min read
Hands holding different colored placards with the letters LGBTQ+
iStock/Getty
Equity & Diversity Explainer These LGBTQ+ Terms Can Help Create A Safe School for Students
To create a safe environment for LGBTQ+ students in schools, here are some terms that educators should know.
Brooke Schultz, May 24, 2024
8 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
School Climate & Safety Opinion How Do Restorative Practices Work?
Traditional punitive measures tend to reap more misbehavior.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 22, 2024
13 min read
Ahenewa El-Amin speaks with students during her AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024.
Ahenewa El-Amin speaks with students during her AP African American Studies class at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., on March 19, 2024. State leaders in Kentucky are pushing the message of making sure all students feel they belong in school including by offering ethnic studies courses.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
Equity & Diversity How a DEI Rebrand Is Playing Out in K-12 Schools
School districts continue to advance DEI initiatives, though the focus is more on general inclusion and belonging for all.
9 min read
An illustration of a wallpaper of mobile phones, some off, some turned over with stickers on the back covers and some missing with just an outline where they once were.
iStock/Getty
Ed-Tech Policy One School Leader Banned Cellphones, the Other Embraced Them. What Worked?
Two principals describe their dramatically different policies on cellphones and how they are working.
Arianna Prothero, May 14, 2024
7 min read
Group of modern diverse queer young people holding cell phones in their hands.
Eduard Figueres/iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Twice as Many LGBTQ+ Teens Find Affirmation Online as at Home
In a new survey, LGBTQ+ teens also say the political climate hurts their mental health.
Arianna Prothero, May 3, 2024
5 min read
School counselor facilitates a group discussion
E+ / Getty
School & District Management When Principals Listen to Students, Schools Can Change
Three school leaders weigh in on different ways they've channeled student voices help reimagine schools.
Olina Banerji, April 29, 2024
6 min read
Horizontal banner image of group of multiracial teenage high school students standing against blue background wall. Student belonging.
Daniel de la Hoz/iStock
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center How Much High Schoolers Think Their Educators Care About Them
An EdWeek Research Center survey asked high school students how much the adults in their schools care about them.
Arianna Prothero, April 26, 2024
2 min read