California’s CORE Districts—a consortium of eight school districts serving a racially and socioeconomically diverse population of over one million students—have since 2014 led the way in deploying measures of social and emotional learning (SEL) and school climate and culture. Influenced by surging interest and research support over the past decade, these districts have collected data in hopes of continuously improving how their K-12 schools address the social and emotional dimensions of student development.


Measures of SEL and School Climate in California



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Why School Climate Matters and What Can Be Done to Improve It

By Jennifer DePaoli and Linda Darling-Hammond

Educators’ abilities to forge strong relationships with students lie at the heart of strong schools.





School Climate and Measurement

By David Osher, Sam Neiman and Sandra Williamson

All schools should be using climate data, which can be used statewide for accountability, too.





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Why School Climate Matters for Teachers and Students

By Grace Falken and Matthew Kraft

Teachers in strong climates get better faster, stay longer, and propel their students to greater heights.





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School Discipline Reform Is Still Needed, but Is Discipline Policy Still the Solution?

By Kristen Harper

Addressing disparities requires a broader, deeper look at school culture, process, and practice.






Measures of SEL and School Climate in California

By Heather Hough and Taylor Allbright

CORE Districts plumb the possibilities of using holistic measures to improve schools.





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Creating Equitable School Climates

By Kori Hamilton Biagas, Philip Brown and Randy Ross

How states and districts are weaving equity into their efforts to improve climate.





Removing Barriers to LGBTQ Student Safety and Achievement

By Aaron Ridings

Comprehensive protections from bullying and harassment help everyone.





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What Learning and Developmental Science Says about Optimal Learning Environments

By Nora Gomperts and Pamela Cantor MD

We know what leads children toward healthy development. We just need to build it.








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