The Unified Champion Schools Cohort, created by the National School Climate Center in partnership with Special Olympics, supports schools working to measure school climate, strengthen inclusion, and advance student belonging. Gain access to discounted school climate tools, actionable data, and research opportunities.
The National School Climate Center (NSCC), in partnership with Special Olympics, is building a cohort of Unified Champion Schools (UCS) committed to measuring and strengthening school climate and social inclusion. Cohort schools receive priority access to discounted, research-backed measurement tools and school-specific feedback to support improvement planning and UCS programming.
When our research requires new data collection, cohort schools get first access to participate and receive discounts on administering the Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI).
You will receive school-specific feedback to help measure the efficacy of your UCS program and other social inclusion interventions.
Joining the cohort simply means we will approach you with opportunities. You are never required to participate in a study. We will always ask before enrolling your school.
We will use de-identified data to advance national research on social inclusion and improve the supports available to schools everywhere.
Please contact Samantha Elleman, Associate Director of Research at selleman@schoolclimate.org
The Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI) is a nationally recognized survey that gathers feedback from students, staff, and families across 14 distinct dimensions of school climate. The CSCI is unique: it is the only school climate tool that includes a dedicated Social Inclusion scale, co-developed with Special Olympics. As a UCS school, the CSCI provides you with the exact metrics you need to evaluate the efficacy of your programming and ensure students with disabilities are fully integrated into your school community.

Get early access to research opportunities and discounted tools.






Samantha’s primary research topics span school climate, social inclusion, and school climate improvement. Prior to joining the National School Climate Center, Samantha worked as Assistant Teacher and Research Assistant at the Barnard Toddler Center. Her research interests include early childhood education, childhood trauma and protective factors, social-emotional education, and mental wellness in schools. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Barnard College and a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.