Which student behaviors have the greatest impact in creating a safe, supportive learning environment? An analysis of more than 152 million student behavior instances collected over seven years by educators in 645 schools has enabled researchers to identify the most essential behaviors in creating a positive school culture. The behaviors are categorized in a new compendium called the Positive School Culture Inventory™ (PSCI). In a new white paper titled “The Positive School Culture Inventory: Purpose, Rationale, and Development,” school climate experts Kent Peterson and Tom Hierck describe how schools can use this inventory to measurably improve school culture outcomes.
In the paper, which is published by Kickboard, Peterson and Hierck explain the benefits of positive behavior management practices, such as those implemented in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and other culture-oriented programs. The authors then describe how a methodology called the “positivity ratio” can be used to objectively evaluate the progress of school climate efforts. Finally, they discuss the development of the PSCI and list the behaviors proven to have the greatest impact in helping schools move toward the target positivity ratio.
