ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLES)

This measure is for children and adultsThis is a free measure

The Ed School Climate Surveys are four  different tests which measure wellbeing across four  populations: instructional staff, non-instructional staff,  middle to high school students (Grades 5-12), and parents. Each test covers three main domains: engagement, safety, and environment. The engagement domain measures three subtopics: cultural and linguistic competence, relationship, and school participation. The safety domain includes five: emotional safety, physical safety, bullying/cyberbullying, substance abuse, and emergency readiness/ management. The final domain, environment, measures subtopics of physical environment, instructional environment, physical health, mental health, and discipline. 

There are slight differences among the tests. The tests for students and parents do not measure physical health. The parent/guardian survey and the emergency management and readiness subtopic in the safety domain are not designed to produce overall scores but can be examined at the individual item level. The student survey has 73 items in an English and a Spanish version. The instructional staff survey has 83 items, the non-instructional staff survey has 104 (a few of them exclusively for principals), and the parent survey has 43 items in both Spanish and English versions.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2016) Benchmark study, “The survey platform is designed to be downloadable free of charge and provides user-friendly school climate reports” (p.3). No permission is required. The reliability and validity of these surveys were tested throughout “16 sites, containing 50 public schools” (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016, p.3).

Pros for Schools

Cons for Schools

Multiple forms for different populations
English and Spanish versions
Tested with a large sample
Comprehensive view of culture

No overall scores for parent survey and emergency management and readiness subtopic
Not designed for students below Grade 5.

Suggestions for Further Research

National Center for Education Statistics. (2016). ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) National Benchmark Study 2016 (EDSCLS Pilot Test 2015 Report, pp. 1-96, Rep.).

National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments. (n.d.). ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLES). https://edtechbooks.org/-upyz

National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments. (n.d.). EDSCLS frequently asked questions. https://edtechbooks.org/-Wqmi

This content is provided to you freely by BYU Open Learning Network.

Access it online or download it at https://open.byu.edu/wellbeing/EDSCLES.