School Discipline & Climate

The Center for Health and Learning provides technical assistance and training to strengthen school discipline and climate. The purpose of such services is to assist schools in building their capacity to humanely and effectively maintain a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment for students and adults that is free from bullying, harassment and other forms of misconduct.

Technical assistance and/or training focuses on one or more of four major areas of school discipline and climate as outlined below.

Disciplinary System and Behavior Management

Emphasis is placed on balancing prevention and intervention. Work in this area can include the development and/or review of: policies; principles and rules of conduct; a “level” behavior management system; and disciplinary procedures, practices and strategies (including crisis response) that are aimed at helping students learn to be responsible members of their school community. (For more detailed information, see our flyer on this workshop.)

Creating a Positive Work Environment for School Staff

Emphasis is placed on establishing a professional environment that is socially and emotionally safe, empowering and collaborative. Work in this area combines an understanding of the basic needs that motivate behavior, norms of healthy school culture, and elements of school staff resiliency. Skill building in collaboration, problem solving, consensus formation nonviolent communication, and conflict resolution are also provided.

Family and Community Member Partnerships

Emphasis is placed on developing genuine, proactive partnerships with parents and guardians. Work in this area involves strengthening participants’ understanding of social capital, school-based service delivery models, social competency and principles and strategies of family-centered practices.

Like other forms of capital resources (e.g., the capital that pays for school materials and equipment) social capital pertains to the way in which schools organize and take advantage of the relationships/networks that exist and/or can be developed among families, the community, and the school.

School Health

School health refers to factors that contribute to the social, mental/emotional, physical, environmental and spiritual well-being of the school community: students, families, and staff. Center for Health and Learning works with schools and School Health Action Committees to plan strategically to address school climate, nutrition and food services, health and physical education, health and guidance services, and encourage family and community involvement that fosters the health of the school community.

To request further information on strategic planning, training and technical assistance services related to school discipline and climate, please contact: info@healthandlearning.org.

For an overview of some current workshops available in this area, including Vermont's School Harassment Law: Understanding the Definitions and Requirements of Act 91, click here.