A task force was appointed by the California School Boards Association to investigate the increase in violence and vandalism and to recommend courses of action. The task force found four changes in society contributing to the increase: (1) the breakdown of the home and family unit, (2) the lack of self-discipline in children and the absence of…

This document provides guidelines for gang awareness and prevention in the California school system. It is based on the belief that inservice training programs help school staff recognize early signs of gang activity, a necessary step to intervention. Following the introduction, chapter 1 offers descriptive information on gangs and their members,…

This description of the research, the development of state laws, and the origins of practices attempting to restore safe schools suggests that there was a relationship among research, policy, and practice. The Congress of the United States enacted the Safe School Study Act in 1974 to ensure a safe environment for education. In response to this…

This guide has been prepared to assist school districts in self-appraisal of their policies governing discipline and control of violence and vandalism, and also to facilitate the development of new policies by providing model policies and procedures implemented in other school districts. Accordingly, the first section lists guidelines for policies…

Recommendations for preventing school vandalism and theft are provided in this guide. Following an introduction which cites factors related to school violence and steps which can be taken to reduce crime, the following general measures are discussed: (1) firm and fair school discipline including codes of conduct; (2) enforcement against loitering…