What is a positive school environment?

A "positive school climate" is said to decrease absenteeism, suspensions, substance abuse, and bullying, and improves students' motivation for learning. A "negative school climate" contributes to bullying, dropout rates, and mental health problems among students. School environments are often described in broad terms, but it can be hard to locate the elements that determine these characterizations. A list of guidelines created by a national education council suggest changes for schools to make their environments safer and healthier for kids, on Access Sacramento.