Measuring Conditions for Learning and Healthy Development

Prepared for the International Conference on Educational Monitoring and EvaluationParis, FranceNovember 14, 2012

David Osher, Ph.D.Vice President American Institutes for Research, AIR Institute Fellow, and Co-Director, Human and Social Development ProgramOctober 18, 2012

There are School Effects on Well Being

Important social field for development Promotion of well being and resilience Prevention and mitigation of emotional, behavioral,

and mental disorders Particularly important for those students who have

experienced adversity trauma disability, discrimination, cultural marginalization, and

community risk factors such as environmental toxicities (e.g. lead) and violence

Four sets of factors appear to be critical to the school’s promotion of well being

The experience of physical and emotional safety experience of connectedness and support experience of challenge

Peer and adult social and emotional competency and behavior

These 4 function as conditions for Learning Healthy development Well Being

School as a Protective Factor and as a Context that Supports Resilience

Connection Academic Success Supported Transitions Positive Relationships With

Adults And Peers Caring Interactions Social Emotional Learning Stability Positive Approaches To

Disciplinary Infractions & Appropriate Supports

School as a Risk Factor for Well Being

Alienation Academic Frustration Chaotic Transitions Negative Relationships With

Adults And Peers Teasing, Bullying, Gangs Poor Adult Role Modeling Segregation With Antisocial Peers School-driven Mobility & Harsh Discipline, Suspension,

Expulsion, Push Out/Drop Out

How Do We Build Conditions for Learning, Healthy Development, & Well Being

What gets assessed gets addressed Addressing the challenge of motivating and focusing

behavior at the point of implementation Principals Teachers

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Using Data On School Climate and the Conditions For Learning

School Climate and the Conditions for Learning can be measured Efficiently In a psychometrically valid manner

Data from measurements can be used for: Progress monitoring and continuous improvement, Leading indicators of school change, Accountability and public transparency.

The Importance of Capturing Student Perceptions

Importance of capturing, subjective perceptions of students

It can be done in an intentional, reliable, and valid manner

Measuring CFL & Student Well Being Is Necessary, But Not Sufficient to Produce Excellence

Practicality-- Must be: Efficient Actionable

Utility –Produce changes in: Practice Support of practice Policy

Examples From US: Federal Government to Improve Well Being & Conditions for Learning

Safe and Supportive Schools Program (US ED) Over 30 states applied 11 awards Climate Surveys

National Center for Safe and Supportive Learning Environments ( US ED and HHS, SAMHSA) Expansion of Original Center

Teacher Quality Center Race to the Top and School Improvement Grants

Starting to Address Climate in School Turnaround

Safe and Supportive Schools Websitehttp://safesupportiveschools.ed.gov

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U.S. Examples: States and Cities

States Alaska School Climate Survey Illinois Social Emotional Learning Standards Massachusetts Race to the Top Wraparound Zones

Cites Chicago

Scorecard Role in Indemnifying need for SEL

New York City Stakeholder Survey Cleveland : Needs Assessment, Accountability and

Progress Monitoring Say Yes to Education City Dashboards

Student Connection Toolkit

School resource

Customized information

Criteria for listing programs Availability to all schools Capacity to support Researched based Alignment to strategies CPS tested

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The Cleveland Metropolitan School District Model for Improved Academic Achievement & Progress Monitoring 3 times/ Year

“The Primary Goal of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District is to become a premier school district in the United

States of America.”

Examples of Using Data For Cross National Comparison: UNICEF Global Evaluation

Fragmented, Quick, And Incomplete Measurement Can Yield Partial And Distorted Views Of Reality