A large-scale study of the relationship between school climate and student academic achievement published in 2008 (see a review in Educational Week by Debra Viadero, Dec 19, 2007.) reported an approximately 11% effect of school climate on academic achievement based on the net results of over 207 research studies. These exciting results are, we believe, the beginning of a serious investigation of school climate as a factor in academic performance that has also been shown in MSA’s preliminary studies of their own school climate work with schools.

At MSA, we believe that the connection between school climate and academic achievement shows that respectful teaching as an element of school climate improvement is a particularly powerfully strategy for school improvement. We help schools learn how to employ respectful teaching practices that engage and motivate students and result in both improved school climate and academic achievement.