An elementary school principal reviews results from a recent school climate survey and is concerned about dissatisfaction with discipline and school-home communication. In responding, the principal's highest priority should be to?

• A. Work with the faculty and staff to establish and reinforce clear, appropriate behavior expectations, and to hold staff accountable for reporting concerns to parents/guardians
• B. Increase school-wide suspensions
• C. Decrease communication with families
• D. Remove student input on discipline

Answer: (A)

When addressing dissatisfaction with discipline and school-home communication, the priority is to establish clear, developmentally appropriate behavior expectations and ensure staff consistently enforce them, while also creating reliable channels for reporting concerns to families. This approach creates a shared understanding of how students are expected to behave, reduces ambiguity that can lead to misbehavior, and builds trust with families through timely, transparent communication. By holding staff accountable for communicating concerns to parents, the school closes the loop between what happens in the classroom and what families know, which supports a healthier climate and more effective discipline overall.

Avoiding punitive shortcuts like more suspensions helps address root causes rather than simply punishing behavior. Decreasing family communication or removing student input undermines engagement and trust, which are essential for improving school climate and outcomes.