The Iowa Department of Education is implementing several programs that are designed to help its schools ensure they are safe and supportive, thereby improving student outcomes. Below are descriptions of two such programs.

Safe and Supportive Schools
The Iowa Department of Education is developing a statewide measurement system and programmatic interventions to improve conditions for learning that will lead to improved safety and reduced substance use. The program is: (1) establishing collaborative teams; (2) establishing a measurement system to survey staff, students, and parents; (3) developing a measurement support system for school districts and schools; (4) implementing a programmatic intervention system; and (5) evaluating project performance and outcomes.

Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment
The Iowa Department of Education provides information and support to Iowa schools in their efforts to address bullying and harassment issues in schools.  Iowa Area Education Agencies and some school districts have Trained Specialists in bullying prevention and intervention. Each staff member has been trained in Olweus an International Program implemented in over a dozen countries across the world. It is recognized by Safe and Drug Free Schools as an Exemplary Program. In addition Olweus is recognized by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Center for the Study and Prevention and Violence (University of Colorado), as one of only 11 Blueprints for Violence Prevention.

 

 

The Iowa Youth Survey is a collaborative effort conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa Department of Education, the Office of Drug Control Policy, the Iowa Department of Human Services, and the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning in the Department of Human Rights. It has been administered in Iowa since 1975 but has undergone significant changes over time.

The Iowa Department of Education is planning to assess school safety and conditions for learning in the state this year by focusing attention on the low achievement of poor, minority, disabled and English Language Learners. The following needs have been identified:

• Identification of gaps between state and local data systems to assess and improve school climate.
• Identification of gaps between programs and strategies to address school climate at both the state and local levels.
• Implementation of a statewide survey for parents and staff (currently a survey does not exist).
• Identification of supports and barriers to impact school climate that involve community engagement efforts, parent engagement)
• Development of infrastructure to provide leadership to improve conditions for learning (staff training, accountability system, continuous improvement process (CIP), integration of school climate efforts).

The state will build on the already existing Iowa Youth Survey (IYS). The instrument will be adapted to address culture/climate issues. This is an instrument familiar to schools and could be easily adapted given capacity that already exists in the state.

The IYS is currently administered bi-annually to students in the 6th, 8th, and 11th grades. It measures domains such as secure and supportive family, safe and supportive school climate, safe and supportive community, healthy youth/avoidance of risky behavior (including risk of suicide, drug/alcohol use), social competent youth, youth success in school, youth prepared for a productive adulthood, youth engaged in/contributing to community, and bullying. Iowa also collects data on in-school suspensions, out-of-school suspensions/expulsions, and related incidents. These data, reported by the districts, are collected continuously but reported annually.
 

On a biannual basis, Iowa collects data on priority health-risk behaviors and the prevalence of obesity and asthma among youth and young adults as part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Below is data for a selection of YRBSS indicators for Iowa and the United States.