Developmental science shows the important role school environments play in influencing child development, including social-emotional and academic learning. A school culture promoting a sense of safety and belonging, nourishes relationships, fosters students’ ability to regulate emotions and behaviors, supports health and well-being, and enhances academic development is a necessary foundation for educational success. This resource defines a Safe and Supportive School as a school that fosters a safe, positive, and healthy whole school learning environment; supports students in key areas of development, integrates services and aligns student support initiatives. A critically important component of the Safe and Supportive School Framework and Self-Assessment Tool is ensuring that students and families can access culturally, linguistically, clinically, age, and developmentally appropriate services that are integrated into a positive school culture. To gain more information, the assessment focused on the basic principles that can effectively help schools across the Commonwealth and how students and their families can be assured that adults work collaboratively, coherently, and confidentially to support their success. From preliminary interviews and a literature review, an initial set of eight principles were developed including: Whole School, Whole Child, Mindset, Confidentiality, Collaboration, Coordination, Access to Services, and Partnering with Families. This resource describes the assessment and findings.
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