Preliminary Psychometric support for the School Climate Measure in a Sample of Early Adolescents

Shay Daily, Keith Zullig, Elly Myers, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson, Michael Mann, Megan Smith

Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentation

Abstract

background: The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to include at least one measure of school quality and safety. However, psychometrically supported measures of school climate are limited. The multidimensional 10-domain School Climate Measure (SCM) has demonstrated robust psychometrics in diverse high school student populations across the US and presents an opportunity to examine its efficacy among early adolescents. purpose: To explore the psychometric properties of the SCM on a purposeful cluster sample of mid-Atlantic public middle school students (N = 1,358). procedures: SCM domains (Positive Student-teacher relationships, Order and Discipline, Opportunities for Student Engagement, School Physical Environment, Academic Support, Parental Involvement, School Connectedness, Perceived Exclusion/Privilege, School Social Environment, and Academic Satisfaction) were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis to establish construct  validity. Additionally, known-groups validity analyzed each SCM domain against self-reported grade point average (GPA) and items measuring school contentment. findings: Analyses confirmed the 10 domains fit the data well χ<sup>2</sup> =2132.5 (df =774, p<.0001), CFI=.95, TLI =.94, RMSEA =.03 [± .03, .04), SRMR = .03. Parameter loadings ranged from .66 to .90. Internal consistency estimates ranged from .78 to .93. Analysis of covariance, controlling for parental education and gender, with post-hoc comparisons suggested students who reported lower GPAs and school contentment reported significantly reduced perceptions of school climate as predicted (p<.05) with small to large effect sizes. conclusions: Results provide preliminary evidence that extends the utility of the SCM to early adolescents and further suggest the SCM may be appropriate for use by states to meet ESSA requirements.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - 7 Nov 2017
Externally publishedYes
EventAmerican Public Health Association 2017 Annual Meeting - Atlanta, GA
Duration: 7 Nov 2017 → …

Conference

ConferenceAmerican Public Health Association 2017 Annual Meeting
Period7/11/17 → …

Keywords

  • school-based health
  • youth

EGS Disciplines

  • Educational Psychology

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