Resources
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Strengthen your school and community's commitment to safety using resources related to
Behavioral Expectations, Rules, and Routines
Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom. Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, 2008. (PDF, 87 pgs.) A practice guide with evidence-based recommendations for use by educators to address the challenges of reducing behavior problems in elementary school classrooms.
Effective Strategies for Creating Safer Schools and Communities. Northwest Regional Education Laboratory (NWREL), 2008. (web article) Five newly revised guidebooks for key components of creating safe, positive schools.
Direct From the Field: A Guide to Bullying Prevention. Massachusetts State Department of Public Health, 2007. (PDF, 123 pgs.) A guide that dispels myths about bullying and provides tips and statistics to help teachers and principals stop bullying.
The Educator's Guide to Assessing and Improving School Discipline Programs, Chapter 1: Identifying and Clarifying Core Beliefs. ASCD, 2007. (web resource) This first chapter describes the process of identifying core beliefs about your school discipline program in order to improve school climate and safety.
Enhancing Achievement and Proficiency Through Safe and Drug-Free Schools. U.S. Department of Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee, 2007. (MS WORD, 54 pgs.) Report by a panel formed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to respond to questions regarding Department of Education policies for Safe and Drug Free Schools.
Internet Safety Policy Recommendations. National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), 2007. (web commentary) Recommendations from NASSP to help secondary schools face "the triple challenge of protecting their students against online predators while safeguarding students' First Amendment rights and encouraging use of the Internet as a legitimate pedagogical tool."
Creating Safe Schools Is Everyone's Business. Our Children, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), 2007. (web article) An article for parents and schools reflecting the social and emotional impact of bullying in all its forms and suggesting ways for schools and communities to create safe and respectful schools.
Policy Update: Cyberbullying. National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), 2007. (PDF, 2 pgs.) A brief policy update from the Policy Information Clearinghouse on cyberbullying including 'issues to consider' and state actions to address the problem.
How We Treat One Another in School. Educational Leadership, ASCD, 2007. (web article) A survey of middle school students' experiences with bullying shows that kids want the adults in school to pay attention and keep them safe.
Broadening the World of Early Adolescents. Educational Leadership, ASCD, 2006. (web article) Middle schools need to balance social development and academic achievement for early adolescents, and be mindful of structures that heighten social segregation.
ASCD Character Education Network. Join this ASCD group dedicated to effective practices and useful theory in character education.
Families as Partners in Education
Strengthening Parents' Ability to Provide the Guidance and Support That Matter Most in High School. Education Commission of the States, 2008. (PDF, 7 pgs.) A policy brief reviewing research on the types of parental involvement that positively impact high school students, policies and practices that reflect and reinforce a commitment to parental involvement, and the parental involvement component of NCLB.
Fostering School, Family, and Community Involvement. The Hamilton Fish Institute on School and Community Violence and Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL), 2007. (PDF, 133 pgs.) An overview of the nature and scope of collaboration, explores barriers to effectively working together, and discusses the process of establishing and sustaining the work.
Children at Risk: The Family. American School Board Journal, National School Boards Association, 2007. (web article, subscription required) Comprehensive efforts to engage impoverished families in schools help all children succeed.
The Violence You Don't See. Educational Leadership, ASCD, 2006. (web article) A former elementary school teacher reflects on the importance of cultural understanding in making students feel comfortable and engaged.
Every Child Learning: Safe and Supportive Schools. Learning First Alliance, 2001. (PDF, 51 pgs.) This report synthesizes the literature, identifies four research-based elements essential to safe and supportive schools, and makes recommendations on how schools and districts can build safe and supportive learning communities.
Creating a Climate for Learning. Center for Social and Emotional Education. (online videos) Part of a variety of resources on school climate and culture, this short series of online videos defines and offers tips for creating a climate for learning along with a case study from the Bronx.
Research
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2007. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008. (PDF, 136 pgs.) A report of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) that covers six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults. The data is used by state and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations to monitor and ensure effectiveness of public health and school health programs for youth.
Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2007. U.S. Department of Education, 2007. (web report) This report on school crime and safety shows that some indicators of safety have improved, but many problems remain.
Every Child Learning: Safe and Supportive Schools. Learning First Alliance, 2001. (PDF, 51 pgs.) This report synthesizes the literature, identifies four research-based elements essential to safe and supportive schools, and makes recommendations on how schools and districts can build safe and supportive learning communities.
Facts and Stats
Student Victimization in U.S. Public Schools: Results from the 2005 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey. Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Education Statistics, 2008. (PDF, 58 pgs.) This report provides estimates of student victimization and is designed to assist policymakers as well as academic researchers and practitioners at the federal, state, and local levels in making informed decisions concerning crime in schools.
The Center for Safe and Healthy Schools. A website developed by the National Association for State Boards of Education (NASBE) and the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that includes a database of state school health policies.
Tools
Direct From the Field: A Guide to Bullying Prevention. Massachusetts State Department of Public Health, 2007. (PDF, 123 pgs.) A guide that dispels myths about bullying and provides tips and statistics to help teachers and principals stop bullying.
The Educator's Guide to Assessing and Improving School Discipline Programs, Chapter 1: Identifying and Clarifying Core Beliefs. ASCD, 2007. (web resource) This first chapter describes the process of identifying core beliefs about your school discipline program in order to improve school climate and safety.
School Crisis Guide. National Education Association (NEA) Health Information Network, 2007. (free web guide) Comprehensive and easy-to-use resource to crisis management, including templates and resources for before, during, and after a crisis.
Other Resources
School or the Streets: Crime and America's Dropout Crisis. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 2008. (PDF, 12 pgs.) America faces a dropout crisis that poses a significant threat to public safety. This report presents evidence for providing services that will increase graduation and cut crime and outlines recommendations for policymakers.
Emergency Management for Schools: Key Resources. U.S. Department of Education, 2007. (web resource) Key online resources for school emergency management.
Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2007. U.S. Department of Education, 2007. (web report) This report on school crime and safety shows that some indicators of safety have improved, but many problems remain.
School Crisis Guide. National Education Association (NEA) Health Information Network, 2007. (free web guide) Comprehensive and easy-to-use resource to crisis management, including templates and resources for before, during, and after a crisis.
How We Treat One Another in School. Educational Leadership, ASCD, 2007. (web article) A survey of middle school students' experiences with bullying shows that kids want the adults in school to pay attention and keep them safe.