Measurement

Understanding and addressing school environment can be facilitated by collecting and reviewing survey and incident data. Schools can then use these data to see which aspects of school environment need to be addressed and to select and implement evidence-based intervention practices and programs. This data-driven approach can promote positive outcomes for students and staff. Learn more about using data to inform effective program implementation.  

Measuring School Environment

Collecting and analyzing school environment data can be an opportunity for school leaders to more effectively prioritize issues, set goals for reform, and understand how stakeholders differ in their perceptions of the current environment.¹ It is important that measures of school environment be valid and psychometrically sound, reflect the voice of subgroups, reach multiple respondents, and use multiple instruments. An effort should be made to create measures that are actionable and will lead to practical and effective interventions.² The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) maintains an ever-growing survey compendium that includes scales, surveys, and assessments that schools can refer to in their efforts to measure and improve school environment. 

Federal Sources for School Environment Data

A number of federal data sources provide information and data related to school environment.

National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments
The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students. The NCSSLE website provides information and resources that will help website visitors understand the nature of learning environments. 

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Through data collected from a national school-based survey, as well as additional local surveys, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six types of risky behaviors prevalent among youth and adults, including substance use and behaviors that contribute to unintentional injury and violence. YRBSS data help schools understand the scope of behaviors that can have a negative effect on school environment and strategically implement interventions to target these behaviors.

Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, a group of 22 federal agencies, focuses on research related to children and families. The forum produces an annual report, America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, which provides statistics across multiple domains, including physical environment and safety, education, and health.

Monitoring the Future
The Monitoring the Future study aims to gather ongoing data on the values, attitudes, and behaviors of secondary and college students and young adults in the United States. Data pertaining to multiple factors that relate to school environment, including substance use and delinquent behavior, are analyzed. 

References