School Climate Change
Education climate (or school climate) refers to the quality and
character of school life. Very simply, an education climate is
how the school experience “feels” related to safety, teaching and
learning, interpersonal relationships and the physical building.
A positive learning environment has been proven to improve academic
performance, attendance, social emotional learning, and life skills of
children and youth. A positive school environment also has been shown
to increase teacher retention, lower dropout rates, decrease incidences
of violence, reduce the need for out-of-school suspensions, and increase student achievement.
Learn more here about positive behavior support and how it can be initiated in your local school to alter the 'school-to-prison pipeline' into a 'school-to-opportunity pipeline.'
Interested in School-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) for your Georgia school?
Georgia Department of Education- Interested in PBIS Implementation?
Georgia Department of Education- Info and what's new for FY18
PBIS Georgia Legislator Booklet- January 2017
Georgia Department of Education Strategic Plan 2014-2020
PBIS Staff Training Power Point, developed by Muscogee County School District (Georgia)
Bonus! Includes 2 videos
1) 6-minute video of a teacher demonstrating he can get to class on time in under 5 minutes; he stops at his locker, talks with a teacher, says hi to friends, all while crawling!
2) Best evidence-based practices for behavioral support (Univ. of Connecticut)
Federal Resources
Supportive School Discipline Webinar - January 2014
Guidance on School Discipline
US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and US Department of Justice
What you need to know about Senate Bill 164
Learn about Senate Bill 164 by reading our one-page report. The bill encourages local boards of education to implement Positive Behavioral Intervention Support (PBIS) and Response to Intervention (RTI) programs and initiatives in their schools, particularly high need schools. The report also includes information on Georgia’s School Climate Star Ratings, a diagnostic tool to determine if a school is on the right path to school improvement.
Videos on PBIS
Video One (out of Five): Why Positive Learning Climates Matter
Created by Metro Regional Education Service Agency, Bright From the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), and the Georgia Department of Education; produced by Georgia Public Broadcasting; and funded by a grant from the David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund—Atlanta.
