Jaimie Stickl Haugen has developed a Student Belonging Scale for middle and high school students
Summary
In collaboration with Caitlin Frawley of the University of North Texas and Kenya G. Bledsoe of the University of Mississippi, Clinical Associate Professor Jaimie Stickl Haugen has developed a tool for educators, school leadership, families and researchers.
Full Description
We are excited to announce that Clinical Associate Professor in Counselor Education Jaimie Stickl Haugen has developed a tool for educators, school leadership, families and researchers to answer the question: Do students feel connected, accepted and valued at school?
Teachers, counselors and school leadership need ways to determine who is feeling a sense of belonging in their school community, and how they can better support a sense of belonging in their students. The Student Belonging Scale helps educators understand how middle and high school students experience belonging — including whether they feel their cultural identities are accepted.
The Student Belonging Scale measures aspects of student belonging across 22 items in four key areas:
- Connection with Adults
- Connection with Peers
- Acceptance of Identity by Others
- Academic Behaviors
School counselors and leaders could use the scale to inform conversations about student needs, identify priorities for strengthening belonging, and guide program evaluation. The initial development study, published in “Professional School Counseling” in 2025, reported promising evidence of reliability and validity.
Stickl Haugen’s research is ready to make an impact. The Student Belonging Scale is already being rolled out into the field and professionals are inquiring about the tool across eight states and four countries.
Interested in using the scale? Contact Jaimie Stickl Haugen for information about accessing the instrument and guidance for use.