WHAT IS IT ?
A Guide to Safe Schools (PDF Document) provides a summary of the research on violence prevention and intervention in schools. This document offers research-based information on what a safe school looks like. Additionally it provides concrete steps to transform your school into a safe environment through the creation of violence prevention and response plans as well as the formation of a prevention and response teams.
HOW DO YOU USE IT ?
Use this guide to learn about the characteristics of a safe school. This resource is particularly helpful when you are trying to determine if your school is a "safe school". This is a lengthy document that can become cumbersome. By focusing on the section entitled "Characteristics of a School That is Safe and Responsive to All Children," (page 3) students will have a clear picture of what a safe school should look like and will have some concrete ideas of how they can help improve the safety at their school.
WHEN DO YOU USE IT?
Students should use this guide when they are trying to evaluate their school with regards to safety.
WHY DO YOU USE IT?
You should use this resource because the information is written clearly and is backed by research.
WHO DO YOU INVOLVE?
This would be used in collaboration with teachers and school administrators when trying to develop a violence prevention plan at your school.
CREDIBILITY
This guide was produced by the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice of the American Institutes for Research in collaboration with the National Association of School Psychologists, under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education. The guide was created in response to President Clinton's directive that the Department of Education create an early warning guide to help adults reach children in troubled situations before serious problems arise. The guide is written in an easy-to-read style that offers practical help for keeping students safe. The guidelines offered in the report are based on extensive research conducted by a variety of reputable agencies.