Lauren Allen

Mentor: Dr. Jack Day
Research: The Role of Anti-Bias Prevention Efforts and Student Factors on School Climate Perception

Improving school climates is an enduring interest of both educators and researchers. The current study investigated associations between the degree to which schools address bias and students’ perceptions of school climate, and whether students’ race/ethnicity and academic achievement moderated this relationship. Multilevel regressions were estimated using data from public middle and high school students and teachers in California. Results showed that students with higher academic achievement and students attending schools doing more to reduce bias perceived more positive school climates; this association was weaker for students of color than for White students. Findings are useful for better understanding how well anti-bias efforts improve school climate and for identifying differences in how youth benefit from these efforts.