Perceptions of School Climate and Safety: Effects of Hiring an MTSS Coordinator at a Middle School

• In Event: School and Campus

Abstract

School misconduct and violence pose numerous challenges for teachers and administrators. In middle schools, these issues are often influenced by school climate, which refers to the sense of connectedness among students and staff. Partnering with a local public school district, a research team was awarded funding to improve climate and address violence at a middle school with a majority minoritized population of students who experience various unique challenges. As a part of this research project, prior survey research on school climate and safety has suggested that feelings of pride and belonging, as well as positive relationships with peers and teachers, significantly predicted students’ perceptions of school safety. The school has recently hired a multitiered systems of support (MTSS) coordinator, responsible for evaluating existing systems and implementing positive behavior interventions at the school. Utilizing student survey results pre- and post-intervention, the current study seeks to evaluate the immediate impact of the MTSS coordinator and their interventions on climate and safety. These results may inform the potential for similar interventions to improve school climate and reduce school violence.

Authors

• Jamie Yap, California State University, Long Beach

• Nicholas Perez, California State University, Long Beach

• Dina Perrone, California State University, Long Beach

• Charo Darwin Glomah, Claremont Graduate University