Workbook for Improving School Climate & Closing the Achievement Gap

Using Your California Healthy Kids and California School Climate Surveys

Produced by: California Department of Education

WestEd's California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) and California School Climate Survey (CSCS) provide schools and districts with valuable data; however, merely having data is not sufficient if it is not being used constructively for developing better schools and helping students to succeed academically. This is the impetus for developing a supplemental resource for those using the CHKS and CSCS, namely, the Workbook for Improving School Climate & Closing the Achievement Gap.

This publication is part of a California Department of Education (CDE) initiative to address the persistent achievement gap that plagues so many schools. The Workbook was developed with the recognition that teachers and administrators have a "full plate," and are implementing strategies to address the important needs of their students. This easy-to-use resource not only offers additional strategies to teachers, but also affirms the hard work and effort that many schools and districts have already invested toward improving the success of all students.