Developing positive school climates and improving school discipline policies and practices are critical steps to raising academic achievement and supporting student success. However, there is no single formula for doing so. Rather, the growing body of research and best practices in the field should inform locally developed approaches to improving…

This manual describes the Dimensions of Excellence Scales (DOES) and their use. The DOES have been developed to assist local education agencies in their efforts to diagnose problems, identify strengths, and improve school operations. There are survey scales for school staff, parents, and students. Each scale concerns dimensions that have been…

This document reports the highlights from a study of effective and ineffective principal behaviors associated with effective schools and briefly summarizes the methodology of the study. The term effectiveness is defined as high academic achievement, low rates of vandalism and absenteeism, a sense of community, and a stable staff. The researchers…