CEE Blog

Welcome to the CEE Blog

Our goal is to spark ideas and inspire educational improvement. We are partnering with experts, authors and researchers to bring you relevant, timely and creative ways to support your work and professional growth.

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Know Better, Do Better: Making Culture Data Actionable for All

Tired of school improvement efforts that fall flat? Discover why focusing on perceptual data—not just acronyms like MTSS and PBIS—is the game-changer for real academic success. Learn how to use culture insights to create the conditions for collective efficacy and drive true student achievement. Ready to break the cycle?

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Know Better, Do Better: Neutrality is Your ‘Land of Opportunity’

Leaders reaching out to CEE are surprised to learn that “neutrality”, that soft, fluffy aggregation of “Meh?”, is actually a lurking threat. How big of a threat? Leaders want to neutralize all threats to a healthy organizational culture, but simply don’t have all the data they need.

CEE’s survey data and visualizations make the hidden threats visible and actionable. Read on to learn how leaders tackle the challenge of fluffy neutrality. 

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Know Better, Do Better: The Tired School Improvement Initiatives Won’t Transform Your School, But This Will

Tired of the same old school improvement plans, activities, and initiatives? Does your school’s improvement trajectory feel like yo-yo dieting? Armed with the knowledge, evidence, and techniques necessary to measure and improve your school culture will lead to that school transformation you and your school deserves this year. Read this series to arm yourself and your school with the critical “how-tos” necessary to do this work.

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The Four Domains of Wellness: A Look at the Student Universal Wellness Screener (SUWS)

Screener data, by itself, will not result in improved outcomes for systems or the students they serve. Screener data that is actionable requires professionals to take action. While this seems patently obvious, it warranted being addressed by Romer et al (2020): “There is an ethical responsibility to enact meaningful decisions on said data (i.e., “screen to intervene”). It is unethical to collect data that requires the use of school time and/ or resources, without utilizing the data to inform service delivery.”

This means that even if districts understand the research-backed rationale for using a SEB screener, and remove barriers to commitment, and follow a best-practice roadmap to implementation, nothing will have changed if action is not taken to change what students see, hear, and experience as a result.

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Best Practices for District-Wide Implementation of SEB Screenings

In this 3rd of our 4-part series, we will turn our attention to creating the roadmap for and indicators of a successful multi-faceted SEB screener implementation.

Setting the Stage for SEB Screenings

The journey toward implementing Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) screenings is rooted in a deep-seated recognition of their intrinsic value: these screenings are a pivotal element in sculpting an educational environment that not only nurtures academic prowess but also fortifies the mental and emotional resilience of students. It is a proactive stance, one that underlines the commitment of educational leaders to embrace the multifaceted nature of student growth and well-being. By instituting SEB screenings, schools lay a strong foundation for a support system that is attuned to the holistic needs of students, recognizing that academic success is inextricably linked to social and emotional health.

Embracing SEB screenings is, therefore, a strategic and research-informed decision that can lead to a transformative educational culture—one where every student can thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment. The following items provided are the road markers districts need to be aware of to determine whether they are on the road to a quality implementation of a screener or veering off course.

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Overcoming Challenges in SEB Screening Implementation

In this 2nd of our 4-part series, we will focus on recognizing and overcoming the most common challenges to making a Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) Screener a reality.

SEB Screeners Reflect a Standard of Care

District leaders, who bear the weighty responsibility of ensuring the success and well-being of their students, often find themselves at the crossroads of innovation and pragmatism. The implementation of Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) screenings is a case in point—a transformative initiative that promises to redefine the educational landscape yet presents a tapestry of challenges.

At the core of deciding whether to adopt a universal SEB screening tool is the organization's dedication to a standard of care. This standard of care refers to how thoroughly and professionally the organization addresses all educational and developmental requirements of its students. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) sets the academic baseline that public schools are expected to meet.

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The Research-Backed Imperative for SEB Screening in Schools

In today's educational climate, the mental and social-emotional health and behavioral patterns of students have come to the forefront of district-level discussions. Superintendents and the departments that implement student support services are now tasked with integrating strategies that address the complexity of student wellness beyond only academic performance. Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) screenings are pivotal in this holistic educational approach, where the focus expands from academic achievement to encompass the entire student well-being spectrum. To meet this need in districts, CEE researched and designed the Student Universal Wellness Screener (SUWS).

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Taking Care of Business – but Who Takes Care of You?

The principle of taking time to “sharpen the saw” as Stephen Covey recommended sounds great but for busy administrators it is easy to get lost in the sawdust. Today’s blog will provide a rationale for why professional mentors and coaches are vital relationships designed to help you stay sharp.

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