National Center for Education Statistics ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) National Benchmark Study 2016

Exert:

The ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) are a suite of survey instruments being developed for schools,
school districts, and states by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES). Through the EDSCLS, schools nationwide will have access to survey instruments and a
survey platform that will allow for the collection and reporting of school climate data across
stakeholders at the local level. The surveys can be used to produce school-, district-, and state-level
scores on various indicators of school climate from the perspectives of students, teachers and staff,
principals, and parents and guardians. The survey platform is designed to be downloadable free of
charge and provides user-friendly school climate reports. Educational entities can choose to administer
any or all four surveys included in the platform. Upon completion data collections, the platform can
produce reports showing aggregate group results.

This report summarizes the findings from the pilot test conducted to evaluate the EDSCLS instruments,
develop school climate scales, and beta test the survey platform. The pilot test was also used to produce
evidence-based recommendations for the final set of EDSCLS items to be included in the released
EDSCLS platform and for the revisions to the EDSCLS User Guide that accompanies the platform.