| Description | Scale Dimensions | Reliability | Sources/Bibliography | Cost/Copyright/Availability |
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CFK, Ltd School Climate Profile (1974) 
(CFK=Charles F. Kettering)
(Found in Howard, 1987)
One of most frequently used measures of school climate. Generally considered valid instrument for measuring middle school climate (psychological variable most prevalent in early adolescence) (Johnson, 1997). Diagnoses strengths and weaknesses of climate (Howard, 1987, p. 12). Provides an assessment of people’s perceptions of what are and what should be the positive climate factors and determinants in a school. Also serves as a benchmark against which a school can measure climate changes. It takes from 20 – 25 minutes to administer the instrument to the students (Howard, 1987)
 

School Climate Scale Dimensions 
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SCALE NAME SCALE DESCRIPTION SAMPLE ITEM
GENERAL CLIMATE Respect, trust, high morale, opportunity for input, continuous academic and social growth, cohesiveness, school renewal, caring This school makes students enthusiastic about learning (+).
PROGRAM DETERMINANTS Opportunities for active learning, individualized performance expectations, varied learning environments, flexible curriculum and extra curricular activities, support and structure appropriate to learners' maturity, rules cooperatively determined, varied reward systems. Students help to decide learning objectives (+)
PROCESS DETERMINANTS Problem-solving ability, improvement of school goals, identifying and working with conflicts, effective communications, involvement in decision making, autonomy with accountability, effective teaching-learning strategies, ability to plan for future Ideas from various ethnic and minority groups are sought in problem-solving efforts (+)
MATERIAL DETERMINANTS Adequate resources, supportive and efficient logistical system, suitability of school plant. There is sufficient staff in this school to meet the needs of its students.(+)
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Reliability

Scaling technique used involves 2 discrepancy-format columns:  “What Is” and “What Should Be.” Each column has 4 descriptors:
1-almost never
2-occasionally
3-frequently
4-almost always
Reliability for “What is” was .90 and for “What should be” was .85 (Johnson, W, 1997).
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Sources/Bibliography

Howard, E., Howell, B., Brainard, E.  Handbook for Conducting School Climate Improvement Projects. Phi Delta Kappa Education Foundation. Bloomington, IN  1987.

Johnson, W.L., Johnson, A M., Gott, R., Zimmerman, K. Assessing the validity of scores on the Charles F. Kettering Scale for the junior high school. Educational and Psychological Measurement. Vol. 57. Issue 5. Durham, N.C. October 1997.
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Cost/Copyright/Availability

Instrument is copyrighted, but any purchaser of Howard’s book (1987) may reproduce it for use in school climate studies or for other purposes. Written permission is not required. However, it is not to be reproduced for resale to others.
 

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Compiled by Sarra B. Baraily & Melissa Quon Huber, Michigan State University, (517) 335-7732.
These materials were developed under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education as part of the Michigan Model Partnerships in Character Education.

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