Student Learning and Support

School Climate Scores

School Climate Scores are generated for schools participating in Louisiana's Safe and Supportive Schools Initiative (LSSSI).   School Climate Report Cards for the 2010-2011 school year are available for the eight districts currently participating in the initiative: Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Tangipahoa, and Terrebonne.

A School’s Climate Score is generated by four unique factors that assess student surveys and incident data.   The survey items specifically assess two factors: (1) Support and Engagement (e.g. high expectations, supportive and caring relationships; opportunities for meaningful participation; and school connectedness) and (2) Violence, Victimization, and Substance Use (which includes acts of physical violence; physical and emotional violence victimization and harassment). 

The third and fourth factors encompass a school’s Discipline Rate and Attendance Rate.   For the purposes of Louisiana’s measurement model, the Discipline Rate reflects the percentage of students not suspended/expelled at least once during the school year (unduplicated count) for drugs, weapons, or violence.   (Note: the discipline data used to calculate this percentage reflects actual discipline actions reported to the state and does not include discipline referrals/incidences that did not result in an actual suspension or expulsion.)   The Attendance Rate reflects the percentage of time the average student is present within the total number of instructional days.

The four factors are combined to generate an overall School Climate Score, with 40 percent of the score being represented by Support and Engagement; 40 percent by Violence, Victimization, and Substance Use; 10 percent by the Discipline Rate; and 10 percent reflecting the Attendance Rate.