NYU STEINHARDT SEPTEMBER 2016 | Education Solutions Initiative | 1 How Can We Improve School Climate and Discipline Practices? Education Solutions Initiative September 2016 Executive Summary The way to transform troubled schools is through building healthier learning environ- ments where students receive nurturing rather than punitive intervention. To improve school climate, the authors suggest: • Schools do not suspend students, but offer behavioral interventions for students who are referred for discipline. • Schools support students with social capital because it can mitigate the undesirable ef- fects caused by poverty, unstable housing, institutional racism, and limited access to early care. • Schools embrace culturally relevant educa- tion because it has been shown to increase confdence and engagement, two factors that are associated with student achievement. How Can We Improve School Climate and Discipline Practices? Schools Can Do It, But Not Alone by David E. Kirkland, Adriana Villavicencio, and Edward A. Fergus