Creating Productive School Climate for All Children: A Case Study of Caring Policy Implementation

• In Event: 58.021 - Policy Implementation at the Building Level: Leaders and Systems

Abstract

Recent shifts from NCLB to ESSA shifted the focus of school improvement from narrow academic improvement to comprehensive school climate change. Yet, little has been known about the role of organizational policy in creating caring environment for all students and its influence on teachers’ caring actions. This paper presents a case study of a policy implementation process in a public middle school which aimed to balance caring and academic pressure. We found that teachers’ caring actions were varied despite school’s efforts to develop caring standards and benchmarks. These actions, which were influenced by teachers’ prior knowledge, were meaningful. However, given the demographic disparities between students and teachers, they also suggested the possibility of creating inequity for disadvantaged students.

Authors

• Jisu Ryu, University of Minnesota

• Jeff Walls, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Jason Johnson