School Connectedness is Focus of New CDC Publication

June 4, 2009 - A new publication on school connectedness recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that, when students feel connected to school, they are more likely to succeed academically and engage in healthy behaviors. 

“School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors among Youth” includes information, strategies and actions on school connectedness that are based on the Wingspread Declaration on School Connections and research in the fields of education, health, psychology, and sociology.  One of the studies analyzed for this publication was the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health that looked at the impact of protective factors on adolescent health and well-being among more than 36,000 seventh to twelfth graders.  The study found that school connectedness was the strongest protective factor for both boys and girls to decrease substance abuse, school absenteeism, early sexual initiation, violence, and risk of unintentional injury.  In addition, research has also demonstrated a strong relationship between school connectedness and educational outcomes, including school attendance, staying in school longer, and higher grades and classroom test scores. 

But what exactly is school connectedness and how can it be increased?  As defined by the CDC, school connectedness is a belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning as well as about them as individuals.  According to the publication, the following factors are essential to increasing school connectedness: 

• Adult Support: school staff can dedicate their time, interest, attention, and emotional support to students;
• Belonging to a Positive Peer Group: a stable network of peers can improve student perceptions of school;
• Commitment to Education: Believing that school is important to their future, and perceiving that the adults in school are invested in their education, can get students engaged in their own learning and in school activities; and
• School Environment: The physical environment and psychosocial climate can set the stage for positive student perceptions of school. 

The publication relays, however, that improving school connectedness is a large undertaking that requires efforts of not only those within school buildings, but also people and organizations outside of schools.  Six strategies that can help increase school connectedness are offered within this publication including: create decision-making processes that facilitate student, family, and community engagement, academic achievement, and staff empowerment.

To access the publication and learn more about these strategies, click here. 

Source: "School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors among Youth," CDC, 2009.