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 Carolina's public schools. Strategies adopted by the few states that have developed statewide policies and laws include: (1) statewide reporting of school misconduct and crime; (2) policies regarding reporting of school crimes to local law enforcement officials; (3) increased penalties for misconduct and crime; (4) establishing parent responsibility for student crime; (5) policies and programs for students expelled for misconduct and crime; and (6) prevention and intervention strategies, such as staff training, community partnerships, and school-safety plans. Based on this review, five strategies aimed at deterring school crime and seven strategies aimed at preventing school misconduct and crime are presented. Appendices include a reprint of a newspaper article, the Mississippi State Board of Education weapon policy, a memo regarding the legal framework for managing unruly students, the North Carolina statute regarding weapons on campus or other educational property, student rights and responsibilities policy of the Milwaukee Public School District (a chart delineates types of student responsibility, examples of conduct which violates expectation, definition of conduct, and discipline action levels), the recommendations of Florida's violence prevention work group, recommendations of the South Carolina Safe Schools Committee, and a partial list of articles on school conduct and crime. (LMI)