AES Publications – Education Reform California
This brief describes key research findings supporting that school climate and culture continue to be the single most indispensable ingredient of effective school reform; it also provides resources for using this data to make changes.
This brief identifies characteristics of high-performing schools and describes proven reforms, criteria and guidelines to improve student outcomes at low-performing, high poverty schools.
- Creating Positive Educational Environments (2012) by B. Davitto and B. Dendle
This brief discusses positive learning environments – the key to turning around low-performing schools – and developing the leadership capacity to create them – the core requirement for any comprehensive reform.
This report presents student data from an AES convening of Northern California high school/university students to include student perspectives in the Blueprint discussion and implementation process (The California Blueprint for Great Schools represents a new mission and planning framework for the State.) Student responses highlight the importance of teacher effectiveness and positive learning environments.
- School Climate and Culture: A Scan of Policy and Practice(A Useful Overview of the School Climate and Culture Literature for Those Who Want to Make an Impact) (2011) by Kristi Lee
This policy and practice review, originally commissioned for a specific AES project, provides a good overview of school climate and culture efforts at the academic, national, state and local levels.
- Intangibles that Make a Tangible Difference in Dropout Prevention (2007) by B. Davitto
This brief discusses the impact of a “caring school climate” and other developmental principals at Genesis Charter High School, created in 2003 as part of Sacramento City School District reform efforts.