Academic Achievement and School Climate in Anchorage and Other Alaska Schools: 2006 to 2009

Amy Windham, Kimberly Kendziora, Leah Brown, David Osher, and

AIR surveyed school climate in 33 Alaska school districts between 2006 and 2009. Overall school climate increased in these districts at the same time that statewide achievement test results declined—especially for math. This report explores the nature of the relationship between school climate and student achievement over time, concluding that, at a district level, improvements in school climate buffered the decline in achievement.

Some key findings based on staff surveys:

Improved School Safety, improved Parent and Community Involvement, and reduced Student Risk Behavior were all significantly associated with positive changes in achievement in at least one subject in the full sample of Alaska schools.
Improvement in the summary measure of Overall School Climate also was significantly associated with positive change in achievement proficiency rates in the sample of Alaska schools.
In Anchorage School District schools, improved School Safety, improved Parent and Community Involvement, and reduced Student Risk Behavior, as well as improved Leadership and Involvement, Staff Attitudes, and Respectful Climate were all significantly associated with positive change in achievement.