Chapter 6: Measuring District Climate

Historically investigations of school improvement have focused on individual classrooms or schools. For example, several decades of research have explored the relationship of school climate on effectiveness. School climate studies have provided a well-established link between climate and student achievement while controlling for socioeconomic status of students (Anderson, 1982; Brookover, 1978; Hoy & Feldman, 1987; Hoy & Sabo, 1998; Hoy, Tarter, & Kottkamp, 1991). Climate has a major impact on school performance because it affects the motivations of individuals. Interpersonal relationships among teachers and between principals and teachers directly shape motivation and behavior.