Giving Compass' Take:

• EdSource discusses the results of a new poll showing that voters in California believe that school environment and safety are much more important than high test scores. Additionally, voters emphasized the desire to allocate more school funds and resources to help vulnerable students.

• What is the best way teachers and school faculty can provide a positive school environment? How can nonprofits in the sector help them achieve that goal?

Giving students the opportunity to lead school culture can make for a safer and happier environment.


In evaluating school performance, registered voters in California say creating a safe and positive school environment is far more important than higher scores on standardized tests, according to a Berkeley IGS/EdSource poll.

Voters also express considerable concerns about bullying, school fights and other forms of intimidation or violence on school campuses, along with harassment that students experience through social media.

These are among the principal findings of the poll to be released Thursday at EdSource’s 40th anniversary symposium in Oakland.

The poll reveals strong voter support for school districts to devote more funds and resources to address the needs of the state’s most vulnerable students, a central theme of this year’s symposium. In particular, voters feel strongly that schools should do more to support homeless children as well as those whose family members are threatened with deportation as a result of current heightened federal immigration enforcement policies.

“The poll shows what we have long advocated for — using multiple measures in our accountability system is the right way to go — and, we believe, to truly support our most vulnerable kids,” said Samantha Tran, senior managing director of education for  Children Now. “But we have to also make sure that all of that information is comparable across schools and districts and clearly shows if gaps in achievement are actually closing or not.”

Read the full article about creating a positive school environment by Louis Freedberg, John Fensterwald, and Theresa Harrington at EdSource.