School Climate Collaborative

“A safe and supportive environment consists of the welcoming, acceptance, awareness, and celebration of many different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds.”

Julian Berkowitz-Sklar, California Center for School Climate Youth Advisory Team Member

School climate is defined as the qualities of a school environment experienced by students and staff, encompassing relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures. Schools with positive school environments engage and authentically collaborate with students, staff, families, and community members.

As part of the California Center for School Climate (CCSC), CDE and WestEd are offering the opportunity for a select number of California LEAs to participate in no-cost School Climate Collaborative during the 2022/23 school year.

The CCSC can support a limited number of districts for this opportunity.  Is your district team interested in being part of the School Climate Collaborative next school year? Please complete this interest list.

About the School Climate Collaborative

The CCSC will work with select LEAs to improve school climate and build local capacity through our year long intensive and collaborative partnership. Partner LEAs will identify a school climate leadership team and implement a set of events co-led with CCSC staff throughout the year. 

Together, CCSC and Partner LEAs will examine school climate improvement from the individual, collective, and systemic levels to:

• Identify local assets and needs;
• Prioritize equity and inclusion;
• Cultivate student voice and leadership;
• Engage families and communities;
• Address disparities in supports and outcomes (with particular attention to BIPOC, special education, LGBTQ+, and other historically and currently marginalized groups); and
• Build a culture of respect, safety, and collaboration.

Key Components

LEA School Climate Leadership Team

Each LEA brings together an existing or new team of district and/or school leaders who work closely with CCSC coaches to guide the yearlong partnership. This School Climate Leadership Team, with virtual coaching and technical assistance from CCSC, identifies school climate needs and assets, selects and supports pilot sites, collects and analyzes data, makes LCAP and other systemic connections, and develops recommendations for sustainable school climate improvement efforts.

School Climate Collaborative Events

Each participating LEA, through their School Climate Leadership Team, may choose to implement up to three of the following School Climate Collaborative events, co-led onsite by the LEA and CCSC. Events may be district-wide or site-based and are meant to strengthen the LEA’s school climate efforts.

• OPTION 1: Professional Learning Session
  • Why choose this option? Professional learning sessions increase the knowledge and skills of participating educators across the most pressing school climate issues and are rooted in local context. CCSC and LEA/site staff co-facilitate sessions where appropriate.
  • What is it? Half- or full-day onsite interactive professional learning session focused on one of the select CCSC topics: educator well-being, brain-based strategies for teaching and learning, school climate data use, building strong relationships, or safe and supportive classrooms.
  • Who attends? 15–40 LEA and/or site-based staff.
  • What is the LEA/site time commitment (planning, event, follow-through)? CCSC works with the LEA or site-based implementation team to plan for and coordinate the professional learning session logistics. Planning begins 2–3 months in advance. Participants attend the half- or full-day session. Professional learning sessions may be scheduled for any time throughout the year.
  • What are the potential direct costs to the LEA? LEAs/sites are responsible for covering the costs of substitutes, space and AV, and refreshments (if any).
  • What services/supports will CCSC provide? CCSC provides planning support, onsite facilitation, session materials, and follow-through support (including participant feedback reports).
• OPTION 2: Family Forum
  • Why choose this option? Family Forums meaningfully engage families in school climate efforts and integrate their perspectives into strategic action.
  • What is it? Family Forums provide opportunities for family members to share their unique experiences and perspectives on critical school climate and culture issues through dialogue sessions and participatory action planning. CCSC and LEA/site staff co-facilitate the 2- to 3-hour event.
  • Who attends? 7–10 family panelists and 20–25 LEA and/or site-based staff and partners.
  • What is the time commitment (planning, event, follow-through)? CCSC works with a LEA or site-based implementation team to plan for and coordinate the Family Forum logistics. CCSC and LEA/site-based teams collaborate on developing questions for the forum. The LEA/site-based team recruits family members who will be part of the panel. Planning begins 2–3 months in advance. CCSC works with panelists to prepare for the Family Forum. Family member panelists, LEA/site staff, and partners attend the event. Action steps identified during the Family Forum typically include follow-up commitments and ongoing communication with participants. Family Forums are typically scheduled for the spring semester.
  • What are the potential direct costs to the LEA? LEAs/sites are responsible for providing or covering the costs of substitutes (if needed), space and AV, and refreshments.
  • What services/supports will CCSC provide? CCSC provides planning support, onsite co-facilitation, session materials, and follow-through support (including participant feedback reports).
• OPTION 3: Student Listening Circle (Grades 6–12)
  • Why choose this option? Student Listening Circles (SLCs) meaningfully engage students in school climate efforts, provide insight and qualitative data to adult participants, encourage reflection and collaboration, and integrate student perspectives into strategic action.
  • What is it? Half- or full-day onsite interactive event that flips the traditional top-down approach to student/staff relationships and provides structured opportunities for students to share experiences and opinions while staff listen and learn. Students and staff have opportunities to work with peers (students with students and staff with staff) and engage in large- and small-group collaborative action planning to elevate student voice as essential to school improvement efforts. CCSC and LEA/site staff co-facilitate the event.
  • Who attends? 7–10 middle or high school students and 20–25 LEA and/or site-based staff.
  • What is the time commitment (planning, event, follow-through)? CCSC works with a LEA or site-based implementation team to plan for and coordinate the SLC logistics. Planning begins 3–4 months in advance. Student and staff participants attend the half- or full-day session. Action steps identified during the SLC typically include follow-up commitments and ongoing communication with participants. SLCs may be scheduled for any time throughout the year.
  • What are the potential direct costs to the LEA? LEAs/sites are responsible for covering the costs of substitutes, space and AV, and refreshments.
  • What services/supports will CCSC provide? CCSC provides planning support, onsite co-facilitation, session materials, and follow-through support (including participant feedback reports). NOTE: CCSC may offer the option to train LEA staff to facilitate additional SLCs on their own. Availability is limited.
• OPTION 4: Youth Summit (Grades 6–12)
  • Why choose this option? Youth Summits meaningfully engage students in school climate efforts, build leadership skills, strengthen youth-adult partnerships, connect students from different schools, and support students as agents of change.
  • What is it? Full-day onsite youth leadership event that builds on the capacity of middle and/or high school students to lead school climate improvement efforts at their sites and strengthens collaborative relationships between students and school staff. Students from multiple school sites engage in high-energy, interactive skill building experiences and topic-specific workshops, such as advocacy and activism, leadership strategies, team building, student wellness, bullying prevention, and/or implicit bias. Staff participants reflect on their own practices, identify areas for improvement, and commit to exploring new strategies for meaningful relationships with students. At the end of each Youth Summit, students and staff work together to develop school climate action plans and identify next steps. Agendas and activities vary based on LEA and school assets and needs.
  • Who attends? Up to 60 middle and/or high school students from multiple school sites and relevant school and district staff. Small teams of 10 students and one staff member per school are encouraged.
  • What is the time commitment (planning, event, follow-through)? CCSC works with a LEA implementation team to plan for and coordinate the Youth Summit logistics. Planning begins 4–6 months in advance at the LEA and school levels. Student and staff participants attend the full-day summit. Action steps identified during the Youth Summit typically include follow-up commitments and ongoing communication with participants. Youth Summits are typically scheduled for the spring semester.
  • What are the potential direct costs to the LEA? LEAs/sites are responsible for covering the costs of transportation, substitutes, space and AV, and refreshments.
  • What services/supports will CCSC provide? CCSC provides planning support, onsite co-facilitation, summit materials, and follow-through support (including participant feedback reports).

Who should apply?

• Local Education Agencies (LEAs) best suited to successfully participate in the School Climate Collaborative have the following practices, systems, and supports in place: 
  • Close working relationships with local districts or schools and a solid understanding of their needs, challenges, and strengths as they relate to school climate
  • Demonstrated commitment to prioritizing school climate at the LEA and school-site levels
  • Culture of collaboration, reflection, and growth
• Local Education Agencies (LEAs) best suited to successfully participate in the School Climate Collaborative will commit to implementing the following practices, systems, and supports: 
  • Demonstrated support from LEA leaders for participation in the School Climate Collaborative
  • Alignment of School Climate Collaborative work with existing LEA priorities, plans, and systems
  • Appropriate amounts of time and resources allotted for School Climate Collaborative events and activities
  • Commitment to support effective planning and implementation of School Climate Collaborative events
  • Willingness to learn from experience and improve school climate practices in sustainable ways

For more information, contact CCSC at schoolclimate@wested.org.