i have watched this organization grow and mature over the last five years and seen it's focus refined to reflect one of the most important elements of school improvement--school climate. In these days when parents must be confused by claims about schools and education understanding how the role of school climate in creating an environment where kids are likely to learn is something to be considered carefully. Every parent should encourage the schools their children attend to be concerned about climate--how people treat each other, how learning is supported, spaces that students find safe to learn in--which often means making mistakes at first.

If I had to identify a single element to help us understand the success of schools and make schools better it would be school climate--a concept that brings many complex elements into an understandable form. And, to do school climate improvement successfully there is no better set of educators that I know of than those associated with this Center. In full disclosure, I have advised the group as a volunteer and apply my professional perspective to make this judgment. Every cent funneled through the center has real potential for improving schools for our children. And I especially encourage policy makers at all levels to look at this model as a way to make progress in this area so critical to the future of our nation.

Nick Michelli
Presidential Professor
Ph.D. Program in Urban Education
City University of New york

I have spent my career working to improve the quality of education for children, especially in urban areas. My focus has been on deep academic knowledge and learning what it means to live in a democracy, including learning to argue for one's beliefs, listening to others with empathy, and learning to compromise. These are difficult qualities to measure. i have found nothing as powerful as the work of the National School Climate Center for understanding how the culture of a school impacts learning either positively or negatively. The Center's work is research based, allows for assessment and progress, and is very effective in enhancing school climate and therefore the lives of children, and I might add teachers. I believe that studies will show that when school climate is optimum teacher attrition is reduced. We already know that it leads to stronger learning outcomes.