CONNECTICUT SCHOOL CLIMATE POLICY( continued) 5131.911
Definitions( continued)
12. " Restorative practices " means evidence and research-based system-level practices that focus on( A) building high-quality, constructive relationships among the school community,( B) holding each student accountable for any challenging behavior, and( C) ensuring each such student has a role in repairing relationships and reintegrating into the school community.
13.“ School climate survey " means a research-based, validated and developmentally appropriate survey administered to students, school employees and families of students, in the predominant languages of the members of the school community, that measures and identifies school climate needs and tracks progress through a school climate improvement plan.
14. " Connecticut school climate policy " means the school climate policy developed, updated and approved by an association in the state that represents boards of education and adopted by the Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative, established pursuant to section 10-222q of the general statutes, as amended by this act, that provides a framework for an effective and democratically informed school climate improvement process that serves to implement Connecticut school climate standards, and includes a continuous cycle of( A) planning and preparation,( B) evaluation,( C) action planning, and( D) implementation.
15. " School employee " means( A) a teacher, substitute teacher, administrator, school superintendent, school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, school nurse, physician, paraeducator or coach employed by a local or regional board of education, or( B) any other individual who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to or on behalf of students enrolled in a public school, pursuant to a contract with a local or regional board of education.
16. " School community " means any individuals, groups, businesses, public institutions and nonprofit organizations that are invested in the welfare and vitality of a public school system and the community in which it is located, including, but not limited to, students and their families, members of the local or regional board of education, volunteers at a school and school employees.
17. " Challenging behavior " means behavior that negatively impacts school climate or interferes, or is at risk of interfering, with the learning or safety of a student or the safety of a school employee.
18. " Evidence Based Practices " in education refers to instructional and school-wide improvement practices that systematic empirical research has provided evidence of statistically significant effectiveness.
19. " Effective School Climate Improvement " is a restorative process that engages all stakeholders in the following six essential practices:
A. Promoting decision-making that is collaborative and actively involves all stakeholders( e. g., school personnel, students, families, community members) with varied and meaningful roles and perspectives where all voices are heard;
26