Cybersecurity remains a critical concern for school systems nationwide, showing a consistent increase in publicly disclosed K-12 cyber incidents over the past 5 years. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment underscores this trend, predicting ongoing targeting of K-12 school networks by cyber actors who will…

Dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking are personal, pervasive, and common among high school students. These types of violence are often peer-perpetrated and occur at school. Dating violence includes psychological and physical attacks one utilizes against his or her date. Sexual violence includes harassment and more serious assault such as…

The number of school resource officers (SROs) is increasing nationwide. Simultaneously, the number of schools adopting schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is increasing and projected to expand in response to the greater focus of the newly passed Every Student Succeeds Act to improve school climate and safety. Without…

Concerns for student safety are a commonly cited reason for the presence of police in schools. But as the nation grapples with the appropriate roles and responsibilities of police more broadly, the time is right to shine a light on what we know about the effects of police in schools. This brief summarizes the research related to this question.…

The purpose of this document is to provide timely and useful best practice information to help education agencies proactively prepare for, appropriately mitigate, and responsibly recover from a cybersecurity incident. This resource reflects lessons learned by the education community and provides recommendations that will help agencies protect…

A new report written by Pullias Center researchers tackles the institutionalization of policing in higher education campus safety and management. By providing administrators with important perspectives, key takeaways, reflective questions, and specific recommendations, "Campus Policing: A Guide for Higher Education Leaders" acts as a…

Each year, students in elementary and secondary education fall victim to unacceptable behaviors with sexual overtones, ranging from inappropriate touching and online conversations to physical sexual assault. Most schools have policies and procedures for keeping children safe from a range of threats and hazards, such as natural disasters, flu…

This article deals with effective strategies to show that educators and school administrators can utilize court-ordered mentors, for at-risk juveniles placed in their classrooms. In the late 1980s and 1990s there was a convergence of two major events in juvenile justice. These were the reduction of government funds to address serious social…

Outlines the important role that schools have in teaching students ethical considerations in computer use. Describes how the Cupertino Union School District developed a computer curriculum that includes ethics as a major component. Includes computer listings of crime definitions and a computer ethics policy. (MD)

This guide provides basic guidelines to help schools, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, analyze their vulnerability to violence, theft, and vandalism, and suggest possible technologies to effectively address these problems. It describes existing commercially available technologies and urges thoughtful consideration of not only the…

Effective planning for campus security requires a coordinated effort by the facility planner and safety and security personnel. Examples at Ohio State University are cited. (MLF)

The Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) concept suggests that natural surveillance, natural access control, and territoriality can be effectively applied to schools and surrounding environments to provide safety for students and teachers. This document presents the essential concepts of the CPTED and examines how the main office…

The susceptibility of colleges and universities to computer crime is great. While insurance coverage is available to cover the risks, an aggressive loss-prevention program is the wisest approach to limiting the exposures presented by computer technology. (MLW)

A task force, charged with uncovering weaknesses in existing security school systems in Knox County, Tennessee, developed a checklist survey and sent it to each of the 85 building principals. Displays some of the questions but advises involving community members in the process of creating a security survey. (MLF)

Describes the importance of developing a school violence prevention and crisis response plan, explaining what an effective plan should include; how to establish a school-based team; essential components of a crisis response plan; how to ensure safety via contingency provisions to the crisis response plan; and how to handle the crisis aftermath. A…