Creating Conditions for Student Success: A Policymakers’ School Climate Playbook, was created and co-published in partnership with ExcelinEd. The conversation, moderated by Aspen Education’s Danielle Gonzales and ExcelinEd’s Lizzette Reynolds, included perspectives from Krupa Hedge, a highschool student from Kentucky, Carmen Ayala, the state superintendent of education in Illinois, and LeeAnne Cornyn, from the office of the governor in Ohio, who discussed real-world, proven school climate strategies as described in the playbook. If you missed the event, click here to view. As schools and communities seek to reinvent and recover in the midst of an active intersecting medical, economic, and racial crises, the time is ripe for state-level leaders to take an active role in helping schools create a positive learning environment for all students and teachers, both in-person and virtually. In addition to the panel and report, Aspen Education and ExcelinEd released a suite of resources to help policymakers lead on this issue, including: 

• Letter of Support: A letter of support from 30 organizations from across the country who support the role of state policymakers in promoting a healthy school climate. These organizations are encouraging state leaders to prioritize a healthy school climate in state education improvement priorities, pandemic recovery, and efforts to advance social mobility and racial justice. 
• Federal Relief Funding to Build Healthy School Climates: Outlines opportunities and examples for state, district and school leaders to use Education Stabilization Funds to help schools innovate and improve the learning environment. 
• State Education Policy Checklist on School Climate: Questions and considerations to help guide the development of state education policy related to school climate.
• Infographic: Visual graphic describing what school climate is, why it matters for students and educators, and how state policymakers can improve education systems to ensure schools are safe, supportive, and create a sense of belonging for all students.

For more information about the event, these resources, or to add your logo to the letter of support contact [email protected]. 

Recording:

As schools and communities seek to reinvent and recover in the midst of intersecting medical, economic, and racial crises, the time is ripe for state-level leaders to take an active role in helping schools create a positive learning environment for all students and teachers, both in-person and virtually. The School Climate Playbook provides state leaders with real-world, proven strategies and opportunities to create comprehensive state-wide systems with supportive, safe and student-centered schools.

This virtual event will run from 12:00pm ET – 1:00pm ET on January 27, 2021. There will be a virtual Q&A for all participants. Click here to register!

Panelists include:

• Danielle Gonzales, Managing Director, Aspen Institute Education & Society Program
• Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds, Vice President, Policy, ExcelinEd
• Dr. Carmen Ayala, State Superintendent of Education, Illinois
• LeeAnne Cornyn, Director of Children’s Initiatives, Office of Governor Mike DeWine 
• Krupa Hedge, Krupa Hegde, Kentucky High School Senior, Regional Field Director for the Prichard Committee Student Voice Team