Although lockdown drills are a practice widely used in K-12 public schools across the United States to prepare students and staff to respond to acts of violence, research has only just begun to consider the impacts of these practices on those who participate in them. This study adds to the growing body of literature by examining the potential…

Widespread concern exists that participating in lockdown and active shooter drills, practices that although discussed synonymously are different, may be similarly traumatizing for students. This study examined state anxiety levels--anxiety-present (i.e., anxiety) and anxiety-absent (i.e., well-being)--among students in one rural high school, as…

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating and long-lasting effect on most of the world. In an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, public health authorities instituted guidelines for schools regarding social distancing, mask wearing, and quarantining, and the U.S. educational system was forced to adjust. This…

School-based nurse practitioners (NPs) can reduce health disparities for transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) adolescents. However, research is limited regarding their understanding of TGNC health. This study aimed to explore school-based NPs' perceptions of the health needs of TGNC adolescents. A qualitative, descriptive analysis utilizing…

The purpose of this multiple case study was to investigate teachers' and school leaders' (principals and psychologists) perceptions of how school climate affects student achievement in math and reading at rural schools in Western New York. The five themes included building strong relationships, social-emotional learning, empowering leadership,…

While the likelihood and probability of school districts encountering major crises remain unknown, superintendents need to anticipate and prepare for such events that have the potential to threaten their organization. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the behaviors and actions of New York State public school superintendents…

Mass shootings in schools raise important questions about how best to keep individuals safe and increase survivability in such situations. One of the most common techniques used is lockdown drills, which train individuals to build time and space between them and the threat. Despite their use in 95% of public K-12 schools nationwide, their efficacy…

This quantitative correlational study dives into the heart of understanding the significance of model fidelity for implementing school threat assessment teams. The target population was instructional staff and threat assessment team members from schools in Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester Counties in New York State that use the Comprehensive…

The goal of safely and sustainably reopening K-12 school buildings for in-person learning is widely recognized as critical to minimizing the impact of academic, social, emotional, and mental strains brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order for in-person learning to succeed on an ongoing basis, schools must be able to offer safe…