While students have a right to exercise free speech, schools have a responsibility to ensure safety and maintain the integrity of the learning environment. School and district administration must prepare for the potential of civil unrest both in the community and at school (e.g., walkouts, sit-ins, protests), and to prevent or mitigate the impact…

The overarching goal of schools is to create a safe, supportive environment where students can thrive and learn. This begins with a dedication to students' social and emotional well-being, and effective policies and programs that create a culture of trust. Such a culture provides an optimal learning environment, and is also a proactive step…

Campus security and safety is an important feature of postsecondary education. The Department of Education is committed to assisting schools in providing students nationwide a safe environment in which to learn and to keep students, parents and employees well informed about campus security. These goals were advanced by the Crime Awareness and…

Looks at challenges to safe schools and offers eight suggestions for ensuring the safety of students and educators. Notes that school violence includes unacceptable social behavior ranging from aggression that threatens or harms others to bullying, threats, sexual harassment, gang violence, extortion, and other forms of intimidation. (SG)

This guide provides a conceptual framework and a step-by-step process to help educators implement a comprehensive violence-prevention plan. The plan is presented in four parts: (1) the four problem types; (2) the three supporting actions; (3) the step-by-step process; and (4) references and resources. The four types of problems related to violence…

Asserts that school security requires a variety of methods combined into a single, cohesive solution that addresses five areas: management, building security, violence prevention and intervention, staff training, and crisis management. (EV)

This book presents various approaches for preventing violence from invading U.S. schools. Chapter 1 reviews the primary sources of violence that increasingly challenge U.S. society. Chapter 2 explores the reality that violence is not limited to poor, urban neighborhoods and presents three examples of different schools at pivotal points and offers…

Presents a strategy that can be used by public school officials to reduce the number of weapons coming into schools. Addresses creating policies to protect children from bullies, educating students about the school's weapons policy, initiating weapons-screening procedures, applying consistent sanctions, and acting on tips about students carrying…

This article discusses strategies for preventing aggression and violence in children and youth, including understanding and applying appropriate interventions for escalating levels of aggression and violence, classroom preventative and planning measures, and systemwide policies and procedures. A student crisis plan sheet is provided as a tool for…

This contingency plan is intended to stimulate emergency planning and provide an organizational tool for Illinois schools to use in the development of individual emergency plans. It may accommodate and complement a school's current contingency plan and will allow for the inclusion of additional material concerning school safety. It is intended as…

Guidelines that will help individual communities reach the sixth National Education Goal are provided in this document. The goal states that by the year 2000, every American school will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning. Five stages in achieving safe and drug-free schools are outlined: (1)…

Campus violence, whether it is physical, sexual, or psychological, is counterproductive to a positive college environment and to the healthy development of individuals. Student affairs administrators and directors of various student services hold a responsibility for directing the response of campus personnel to specific volatile and exploitive…

Ways in which school leaders can establish "safe schools" are detailed in this guide book. It offers suggestions on how to involve students, parents, law enforcement officials, business and community leaders, and other concerned citizens. This resource guide is designed to help administrators accomplish five goals: (1) assess the school climate by…

To help educators deal with "bullying" problems, intervention strategies are presented in this handbook. It focuses on the insidious day-to-day teasing and harassment typical of bullying and serves as a resource for addressing "bully/victim" problems during the pre-adolescent and adolescent years. Research has shown that the middle-school years…

Recent headlines in the North Carolina and national media illustrate that many schools are unsafe places for children and school staff. Problems associated with student misconduct and student crime can be found in schools and appear to be increasing. This publication identifies strategies for creating safe environments for learning in North…