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Supportive School Discipline Webinar Series: Addressing Truancy-- Innovative Approaches to Systemically Increasing Attendance and Reducing Chronic Truancy
February 27, 4:00-5:30 pm ET
What's New
HHS/Office of Adolescent Health Updates State-by-State Adolescent Mental Health Facts. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health has recently updated its state summaries that focus on adolescent mental health. Each state page reports on positive social skills, depressive symptoms, depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts, attempts, and injuries. Learn More
Safety |
School safety refers to the security of the school setting and school-related activities as perceived and experienced by all stakeholders, including families, caregivers, students, school staff, and the community. School safety encompasses both emotional and physical safety, and is influenced by positive and negative behaviors of students and staff as well as the presence of substance use in the school setting and during school-related activities. The following products, research articles and briefs, and tools provide an overview of issues and concerns related to school safety, as well as tools and strategies to address components of emotional and physical safety in the school setting.
Featured Resource(s):
Growing up Drug-Free: A Parent’s Guide to Prevention (2012)
Provides a user-friendly guide for what to do and how to communicate about the harmful effects of illicit drugs and alcohol to children from elementary through high school. Organized in 6 major sections: 1) How This Book Will Help You? 2) What Substances Do Kids Use? 3) Why Do Kids Use Drugs? 4) How Do I Teach My Child About Drugs? 5) What If I Think My Child is Using Drugs? 6) Resources.
Role of Enforcement in Prevention
Describes a number of landmark reports that contain recommendations for addressing alcohol and other drug use by college students, emphasizing the importance of implementing policies on campus and in surrounding communities to change the culture of student drinking through environmental management and enforcement.
2012 National Drug Control Strategy
Provides a blueprint for reducing illicit drug use and its harmful consequences in America that includes effforts to be undertaken by Federal agencies in partnership with state, local, tribal, and international counterparts to prevent illicit drug use in our communities; intervene early
in the health care system; strengthen drug treatment services and support the millions of Americans in recovery; break the cycle of drug use, crime, and incarceration; disrupt domestic drug production and trafficking; strengthen international partnerships; and improve drug-related information systems.
Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner's Guide
Helps practitioners conduct fast, effective alcohol screens and interventions with patients, even during brief, acute care visits. Offers empirically derived tools, tips, and resources and outlines different levels of intervention with tips for topics to cover.
AOD Issues at Tribal Colleges and Universities
Describes issues related to alcohol and other drug use among students at the 36 federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States, which enroll approximately 30,000 full-and part-time students.
Be Vocal, Be Visible, Be Visionary: Recommendations for College and University Presidents on Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention
Promotes 13 recommendations for a broader approach to student alcohol abuse, reflecting a more complete understanding of how societal conditions drive alcohol use and the magnitude of alcohol-related problems.
Community Partnerships: Improving the Response to Child Maltreatment
Offers a foundation for understanding child maltreatment and the roles and responsibilities of various practitioners in its prevention, identification, investigation, and treatment.
Drug Endangered Children
Provides information on how to identify, respond to, and provide services to drug endangered children; includes a compilation of related resources and a toolkit of promising practices to assist States, local, and tribal governments in identifying, responding to, and providing services for drug endangered children.
Effects and Consequences of Underage Drinking
Presents findings from a literature review that investigated how underage drinking can affect a youth’s physical, emotional, and neurological health. Discusses the personal, legal, and economic consequences of underage drinking.
Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Program
Provides an overview of OJJDP’s Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws program, which supports and enhances efforts by States and local jurisdictions to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.
Engaging the Nation's Community Colleges as Prevention Partners
Provides a report of a Roundtable on Community College Health and Safety: Preventing Substance Abuse and Violence where community college representatives discussed alcohol, other drug, and violence problems at community colleges.
Environmental Management: A Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Alcohol and Other Drug Use on College Campuses
This reports examines three spheres of action for environmental change: campus task force, campus and community coalition, and associations of higher education officials, especially college presidents.
Environmental Management: An Approach to Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention
This Prevention Update provides alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention staff and administrators with a quick introduction to the Center's environmental management approach to AOD prevention.
Experiences in Effective Prevention
Reviews and synthesizes information gained from site visits to identify the characteristics that are common to model programs that can be adapted for other campuses.
Family Skills Training for Parents and Children
Features the Strengthening Families Program, reflecting research that indicates that the most effective interventions build parent, child, and family skills.
Field Experiences in Effective Prevention
Describes the experiences of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 model program grantees and includes lessons learned assist campuses develop effective prevention programs.
Focus on Prevention
Offers brief, practical, and easy-to-read information that is useful in planning and delivering prevention strategies.
Girls' Delinquency
Examines rising trends in girls’ delinquency in the 1990s.
Keep Kids Alcohol Free: Strategies for Action
Describes three basic prevention strategies and ways they can be applied in the home, the school, and the community, and offers effective, practical strategies for communities that have decided to take action to prevent underage drinking, especially among children and young adolescents.
Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Family Guide
Discusses skills parents and caregivers can use to prevent illicit drug use among teens. Describes problems caused by marijuana, alcohol, and other substances; signs of drug use; and ways to enforce rules, give advice, and deal with teens caught using drugs.
Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Guide for African American Parents and Caregivers
Discusses skills African American parents and caregivers can use to prevent illicit drug use among teens. Discusses negative effects caused by marijuana, alcohol, and other substances; signs of drug use; and ways to get help from others to keep teens healthy.
Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Guide for Hispanic Families (bilingual version)
Lists the negative effects of smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, and taking other drugs, especially for teens. Offers a resource guide and suggestions to parents about setting rules geared toward substance abuse prevention and parenting techniques to discourage drug use.
Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do To Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
Includes a complete workshop module, handouts and instructions, as well as real-life scenarios and information about warning signs and symptoms, common myths about teen prescription drug abuse, brochures and sample promotional materials.
Navigating the Teen Years: A Parent's Handbook for Raising Healthy Teens
Gives tips and checklists to increase awareness and help parents guide their teens to a healthy life. Discusses setting expectations and rules, monitoring teens, and being a good role model to prevent problems such as alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use.
New Technology Tools: Using Social Media for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention
Describes how using social media technology for alcohol, drug abuse, and violence prevention is a means of communicating in a very different way, which poses a challenge for people in the college prevention field who have relied on one-way social marketing or substance interaction to communicate prevention messages.
NSDUH Report: How Young Adults Obtain Prescription Pain Relievers for Nonmedical Use
Reports on the prevalence of past year nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers among young adults aged 18 to 25 and how they obtained the prescription pain relievers they used most recently for nonmedical purposes.
Parenting to Prevent Childhood Alcohol Use
Reviews parental influence on a child’s alcohol use and suggests strategies for parents to employ in helping their children develop healthy attitudes toward drinking while minimizing its risk.
Parents’ Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: Rights Regarding Children’s Education Records
Explains that, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act , once a student is 18 years old, rights to view educational records are under the student’s discretion, but identifies special situations when parents may still gain access to records once the student is 18 years old, such as when safety or legal matters are at hand.
Preventing Tobacco Use Amoung Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General
Examines in detail the epidemiology, health effects, and causes of tobacco use among youth ages 12 through 17 and young adults ages 18 through 25. Also highlights the efficacy of strategies to prevent young people from using tobacco. Has an accompanying consumer booklet with practical steps and information for addressing youth tobacco use and fact sheet that provides an overview of key findings from the report.
Problems Related to Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Violence Among Military Students
Describes a number of studies regarding alcohol and other drug use and problems among military students and gives examples of campus-based interventions.
Safe and Sound: An Educational Leader’s Guide to Evidence-Based SEL Programs
Provides a road map for schools and districts that are launching or adding social, emotional, and academic learning programs and reviews 80 multiyear, sequenced SEL programs designed for use in general education classrooms.
Safe Lanes on Campus: A Guide for Preventing Impaired Driving and Underage Drinking
Helps senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, community leaders, enforcement agencies, and campus and community coalitions in choosing prevention strategies appropriate to their campus and their community to address driving under the influence of alcohol by students of all ages and alcohol use by students under the legal drinking age.
SCOPE Thought Piece
Provides thoughts from an assembled group of prevention education practitioners and experts on the biggest questions facing prevention educators today.
Screening and Assessing Adolescents for Substance Use Disorders
Presents guidelines for screening and assessing teens for alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems; discusses assessment for referral and treatment, confidentiality laws, screening and assessment in juvenile justice settings, and screening and assessment tools.
Statewide Coalitions and State Systems
Describes ways to promote and sustain statewide and regional initiatives to support college alcohol, other drug, and violence prevention efforts, including the formation of campus and community coalitions with a focus on changing the broader environmental conditions that encourage student substance use.
Substance Abuse Intervention and Treatment: A Guide for Schools
Offers resources and practical information about dealing with substance use issues in the school setting, such as ATOD policies and procedures, signs and symptoms of use, Student Assistance Programs, drug testing, early intervention and treatment services, and confidentiality issues.
Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Cents: A Cost-Benefit Analysis
Policymakers and other stakeholders can use cost-benefit analysis as an informative tool for decisionmaking for substance abuse prevention. This report reveals the importance of supporting effective prevention programs as part of a comprehensive substance abuse prevention strategy.
The Abuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
Warns parents about the dangers of teens misusing prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. Lists prevention tips, signs that teens are misusing prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, and facts about the names and sources of abused drugs.
The Off-Campus Environment: Approaches for Reducing Alcohol and Other Drug Problems
Introduces a broad range of strategies for addressing alcohol- and other drug-related problems off campus,
Tips for Teens Drug Use Prevention Series
Informs teens about the dangers of drug use, including short- and long-term health risks and ways the drug affects the brain. Details signs of use, statistics about teen use of drug, and answers questions about common myths of drug and use of that drug. Lists slang terms for drug.
Translating Research to Practice: Overcoming Barriers to Implementing Effective Off-Campus Party Intervention
Describes a wide range of measures, including alliances between colleges and universities and law enforcement agencies, to get unruly house parties in student neighborhoods under control.
Treatment of Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders
Discusses factors in treatment placement; successful treatment components; approaches used in 12-Step programs, therapeutic communities, and family therapy; teens with distinct needs; and legal issues.
Underage Drinking Costs
Estimates the costs that are incurred by states as a direct result of underage alcohol consumption.
Youths' Choice of Consultant for Serious Problems Related to Substance Use
Presents statistics on consultants (e.g., parent, friend, sibling) that teens talk to about serious problems, including substance use; examines if cigarette, alcohol, and drug use varies with choice of consultant and if the choice varies with age and gender.
Featured Resource(s):
Prevalence and Implementation Fidelity of Research-Based Prevention Programs in Public Schools
Examines the prevalence of research-based drug and violence prevention programs in schools and the programs' implementation fidelity.
Adolescents with Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders: 2003
Compares teen treatment admissions with co-occurring disorders to those adolescent admissions with a substance abuse problem only; examines gender, race or ethnicity, referral source, primary substance of abuse, service setting, and education.
Age at First Use of Marijuana and Past Year Serious Mental Illness
Focuses on the association between age at first use of marijuana and past-year serious mental illness (SMI) and includes statistics on lifetime marijuana use, age at first use of marijuana, past-year SMI, and age at first use of marijuana and past-year SMI.
America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2009
Provides annual updates on the well-being of children and families in the United States across a range of domains.
Co-Occurrence of Substance Use Behaviors in Youth
Examines the prevalence and overlap of substance-related behaviors among youth, making comparisons based on age group, gender, and race/ethnicity.
Community Colleges-Prevention Challenges
Describes preliminary findings from a three-year study on college alcohol and drug prevention systems by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Alcohol Epidemiology Program that found that 42 percent of administrators at 106 two-year community and technical colleges across the nation rated student drinking as a “major or moderate problem.”
Crime and Safety Surveys
Provides data and reports produced by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on the topic of school crime and safety, organized by survey respondent.
Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools, Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2007-08
Presents national-level information about crime and safety in U.S. public schools as reported by school principals, including the frequency of criminal incidents at school, the use of disciplinary actions, and efforts to prevent and reduce crime at school.
Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools: Findings From the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2009–10
Presents findings on crime and violence in U.S. public schools, using data from the 2009–10 School Survey on Crime and Safety. Survey asks public school principals about the frequency of incidents, such as physical attacks, robberies, and thefts, in their schools; and asks about school programs, disciplinary actions, and the policies implemented to prevent and reduce crime in schools.
Depression and the Initiation of Alcohol and Other Drug Use among Youths Aged 12 to 17
Examines youths' (ages 12-17) past-year major depressive episodes (MDE), past year initiation of alcohol and illicit drug use, and the association between MDE and the initiation of alcohol or other drug use.
Drug Abuse on College Campuses: Emerging Issues
Describes trends in illicit drug use among college students, which has been on the decline for the past 30 years, with some exceptions.
Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2010
Provides the most current detailed statistical information on the nature of crime in schools, examining crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school.
Parental Disapproval of Youths' Substance Use
Reports on perceptions among youths age 12 to 17 about their parents' approval or disapproval of daily alcohol use, drug use, or cigarette smoking; compares youths' perceptions to their reported substance use; and gives statistics on age, race and ethnicity, and gender.
Perceptions of Risk from Substance Use among Adolescents
Explores age and gender trends among adolescents' perceived risk associated with the use of cigarettes, heroin, LSD, cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana.
Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables
Presents information on drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, as well as drug and alcohol dependence and abuse and treatment, by a variety of demographic, geographic, and other variables, including rates of the behaviors, numbers of persons engaging in these behaviors, and other measures.
School Connectedness and the Transition Into and Out of Health-Risk Behavior Among Adolescents: A Comparison of Social Belonging and Teacher Support
Explores the association between two dimensions of school connectedness – perceived teacher support and social belonging – and participation in adolescent health-risk behaviors.
Seasonality of Youth's First-Time Use of Marijuana, Cigarettes, or Alcohol
Examines the percentage of teens age 12 to 17 who begin using alcohol, marijuana, or cigarettes each month.
Student Reports of Bullying and Cyber-Bullying: Results From the 2007 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Uses data from the 2007 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to show the relationship between bullying and cyber-bullying victimization and other variables of interest such as the reported presence of gangs, guns, drugs, and alcohol at school; select school security measures; student criminal victimization; and personal fear, avoidance behaviors, fighting, and weapon-carrying at school.
Student Victimization in U.S. Schools: Results From the 2009 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Uses data from the 2009 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to examine student criminal victimization and the characteristics of crime victims and nonvictims. Also provides findings on student reports of the presence of gangs and weapons and the availability of drugs and alcohol at school, student reports of bullying and cyberbullying, and fear and avoidance behaviors of crime victims and nonvictims at school.
Substance Use and Delinquent Behavior Among Serious Adolescent Offenders
Presents some key findings on the link between adolescent substance use and serious offending. Serious/chronic offenders are much more likely than other juvenile offenders to be substance users and have related disorders.
Substance Use and the Risk of Suicide Among Youths
Provides information on survey responses from youths ages 12 to 17 to questions about whether they had thought seriously about killing themselves or tried to kill themselves during the 12 months before the survey interview.
Trends in Substance Use, Dependence or Abuse, and Treatment among Adolescents: 2002 to 2007
Provides statistics on teen substance use, drug abuse, and treatment; examines trends regarding cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs as well as whether adolescents who are addicted to these substances receive treatment.
What are Districts' Written Policies Regarding Student Substance-Related Incidents?
Describes key features of the high school alcohol and drug policies in the 100 largest school districts in the United States.
Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner's Guide
Helps practitioners conduct fast, effective alcohol screens and interventions with patients, even during brief, acute care visits. Offers empirically derived tools, tips, and resources and outlines different levels of intervention with tips for topics to cover.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Model Programs Guide
Offers a database of scientifically-proven programs that address a range of issues, including substance abuse, mental health, and education programs.
School Health Education Resources (SHER)
Searchable database that provides access to all the educational resources relevant to school health that are available from CDC, such as curriculum, factsheets, and teacher instructional materials on various topics like alcoholo and drug abuse, mental health, and nutrition.
2011 OSDFS National Conference: School Nurses Helping Students Make Smart Moves and Smart Choices about Prescription Drugs
Discusses prescription drug abuse among youths and provides prevention resources. Describes the role of the school nurse as a prevention agent in schools and how nurses can work with students to increase their understanding of the dangers and consequences of abusing prescription drugs.
2012 OSHS Grantee TA Symposium: Resources to Support Improved School Climate
Documents descriptions and links to a variety of guides, briefs, tools, and websites by the school climate content areas of programmatic intervention, measures, school climate (engagement, environment, and safety), and special populations.
CSAP's Prevention Pathways (Online Courses)
Examines the causes and effects of bullying, suicide, and substance use, prevention techniques and programs, screening, treatment options, and legal and ethical issues surrounding these issues.
Websites
Kentucky Center for School Safety
Produces and houses safe school assessments, resources, emergency procedures, and handouts, and oversees safe school funding recipients' work for the state of Kentucky under House Bill 330.
American Federation of Teachers
Houses free products and tools on topic it calls "Safe, Orderly and Healthy Schools" and serves as a membership organization for teachers, providing members a wealth of resources on teaching, including periodicals and videos.
Building State Capacity for Preventing Youth Substance Use and Violence (BSC) Program
Provides information on Building State Capacity for Preventing Youth Substance Use and Violence grants that are awarded to state educational agencies (SEAs) to build and sustain capacity to prevent youth substance use and violence and support collaboration between SEAs and other State agencies that are involved in efforts to prevent these problems.
The Governor's Prevention Partnership - Connecticut
Provides tools and products as State of Connecticut Governor's Prevention Partnership, including information on mentoring, violence prevention, bullying prevention, and drug-use prevention.
Smokefree Teen
Provides resources to help teens quit smoking.
CDC: Smoking & Tobacco Use
Provides resources for individuals, children and adolescents, and researchers and scientists on prevention strategies, health consequences, and rates of abuse.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Provides states, providers, communities and the public with the best and most up-to-date information about behavioral health issues and prevention/treatment approaches.
Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative TA Center
Provides students, schools, and communities with federal funding to implement an enhanced, coordinated, and comprehensive plan of activities and services that focus on promoting healthy childhood development and preventing violence and substance abuse.
Office of Safe and Healthy Students
Provides information on programs, grants, and policies addressing drug and violence prevention, character and civic education, and physical education.
National Registry of Effective Programs & Practices
Offers a searchable online registry of more than 220 interventions supporting mental health promotion, substance abuse prevention, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. Connects members of the public to intervention developers to learn how to implement these approaches in their communities.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for Parents and Teachers
Offers the latest science-based information about the health effects and consequences of drug abuse and addiction and resources for talking with kids about the impact of drug use on health.
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Serves as a resource for information about substance abuse prevention and addiction treatment. Provides both English- and Spanish-speaking information specialists who are skilled at recommending appropriate publications, posters, and videocassettes; conducting customized searches; providing grant and funding information; and referring people to appropriate organizations.
Find Youth Info
Provides information and resources on youth engagement; youth development, mental health, safety, transportation, housing and employment.
Drug Free Communities Support Program
Provides grants of up to $100,000 to community coalitions that mobilize their communities to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse by strengthening their coordination and prevention efforts, encouraging citizen participation in substance abuse reduction efforts, and disseminating information about effective programs.
CSAP's Prevention Pathways (Online Courses)
Examines the causes and effects of bullying, suicide, and substance use, prevention techniques and programs, screening, treatment options, and legal and ethical issues surrounding these issues.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for Teens
Delivers science-based facts about how drugs affect the brain and body so that adolescents aged 11 through 15 (as well as their parents and teachers) will be armed with better information to make healthy decisions.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Addresses the most fundamental and essential questions about drug abuse, including tracking emerging drug use trends, understanding how drugs work in the brain and body, developing and testing new drug treatment and prevention approaches, and disseminating findings to the general public and special populations.
News Clips
University of Idaho Student Deaths Raise Concern Over 'Culture of Drinking'
Data compiled by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is drawing attention to what many experts believe is a growing problem. The NIAAA reports that each year, fellow students who have been drinking assault nearly 700,000 students, 400,000 have unprotected sex while drunk, almost 600,000 are injured, and some 1,825 students die due to alcohol poisoning and alcohol related accidents. Read Story
Alcohol Hospitalizes UVa Students, Greeks Ban Hard Liquor
University of Virginia leaders are pushing campus fraternities and sororities to curb drinking after a rash of alcohol-related emergency room visits during rush week, officials said Thursday. Although the numbers are not out of line with what the school has seen in the past, university officials said they took the potentially life-threatening situations seriously. Read Story
Drinking Among College Freshmen Hits Record Low, Major Survey Finds
According to the "2012 Freshman Norms report," conducted by UCLA's Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) each year since 1966, only 33 percent of college freshman reported drinking beer in 2012, down from 35.4 percent in 2011 and far lower than the 73.7 percent who were knocking back drinks in 1982, when many of their own parents were in college.
Ivies Tighten Alcohol Policies
Seven of eight Ivy League universities — Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard — have all rolled out new alcohol-related policies since last August, with a series of major regulation changes occurring at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. Administrators and students said they have noticed a shift away from direct disciplinary approaches toward more creative educational programs, but students at four schools said the recent policies have targeted alcohol usage at the expense of Greek life. Read Story
Online Seminar: Alcohol Policy, Underage Drinknig Prevention, and Social Change
According to the latest estimates of the global burden of disease study, alcohol is the leading risk factor in most countries of the Americas Region. Implementing effective alcohol policies that would reduce the burden of non communicable diseases, injuries, underage drinking, at the same time that they would make economic sense, remain both a challenge and a priority. Such policies need also to counter balancing the influence of the alcohol industry, which is rapidly expanding in the Region. Jim Mosher’s presentation will focus on preventing underage drinking: alcohol policies shown to be effective, the alcohol industry’s role and economic stake in the policy debate, and community-based implementation strategies. Participate
MA High School Prepares Breathalyzer Policy and Protocol
Students at a Massachusetts high school who are suspected of being intoxicated at school or at school events could be asked to take a breathalyzer test under a policy proposed by the school's principal and in partnership with the police department. Read Story
Cornell Withdraws Recognition of a Fraternity After a Report of Hazing
Two years after one of its students died after a fraternity drinking ritual, Cornell University has withdrawn its recognition of another fraternity after a pledging episode in which prospective members were said to have been served alcohol and stripped naked. Read Story
National Drug Facts Week (NDFW): Jan 28 - Feb 3
NDFW is a health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. Register for local events, learn how to host or sponsor an event, or take the National Drug IQ Challenge. Learn More
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's National Leadership Forum/SAMHSA's 9th Annual Prevention Day
Learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally known experts and policymakers. SAMHSA's Prevention Day is Monday, February 4, and is free to the public. Learn More
Prescription Drug Misuse Remains a Top Public Health Concern
New SAMHSA report finds approximately 22 million persons nationwide initiating nonmedical pain reliever use since 2002. Read Story
Up to $3 Million in Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) Grants
The STOP Act grants aim to strengthen collaboration among the Federal, state, local, and tribal governments and communities to reduce and prevent alcohol use among youth more effectively. Learn More
PA Underage Drinkers Face Stiffer Fines
Stiffer fines went into effect as of Christmas Eve for underage drinking and public drunkenness offenses. Now, the $300 fine that underage drinkers had faced has risen to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second offense, a change made largely because of costly, time-consuming alcohol-fueled crime in State College, home to Penn State University.
Survey: Almost One-Fourth of 12th Graders Have Smoked Marijuana in Past Month
Almost one-quarter of the nation’s high school seniors say they have smoked marijuana in the past month, according to the 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey. Read Story
NIDA’s 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey Shows Rates Stable or Down for Most Drugs
Continued high use of marijuana by the nation's eighth, 10th and 12th graders combined with a drop in perceptions of its potential harms was revealed in this year's Monitoring the Future survey, an annual survey of eighth, 10th, and 12th–graders conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan. The survey also showed that teens' perception of marijuana's harmfulness is down, which can signal future increases in use.
Arrests in a Freshman’s Drinking Death Reflect a Tougher Approach
The DeKalb police have issued arrest warrants for 22 students after the fraternity hazing-related death of a freshmen student. The arrests amount to one of the largest numbers of people to be criminally charged in a single college hazing episode, reflecting recent efforts by the police and prosecutors around the country to enforce anti-hazing laws more aggressively. But some experts said the message was unlikely to make a lasting change in college drinking culture. Read Story
University Attempts to Analyze, Alter Alcohol Abuse in Chico
Two Chico State health researchers have found that 35 percent of Chico State freshmen are predisposed to binge drinking, which is higher than the national average of 22 percent of college freshmen. Dr. Deborah Stewart, the Student Health Service director, and Trisha Seastrom, the Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center program manager, are working on a preliminary plan to address alcohol issues and other substance abuse concerns on the Chico State campus, Stewart said. Read Story
National Institute on Drug Abuse to Announce Results of 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, December 19, to announce the results of its 2012 Monitoring the Future survey. The survey, funded by NIDA -- part of the National Institutes of Health -- tracks annual drug abuse trends of 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade students, including attitudes and perceived risk of specific drugs of abuse. The 2012 MTF survey will include use of “bath salts” among students for the first time.
Bars Combat Underage Drinking with Preventative Measures
Local bars in Bowling Green, OH try to regulate the amount of sneak-ins, underage drinking and use of fake IDs by patrons and students. One bar not only checks IDs, it uses a stamp system to prevent underage patrons from drinking.
Study: Chugging Alcohol Before Going Out to Drink Leads to Trouble
College students who drink alcohol before going out to a bar, club or sporting event are more likely than their peers who don’t “pre-drink” to experience blackouts, hangovers, alcohol poisoning or absence from work or school, a new study finds. Pre-drinking also leads to an increased risk of unprotected sex and unplanned drug use or injury, according to the Los Angeles Times. Read Story
Advent of 'Smart Drugs' Raises Safety, Ethical Concerns
Researchers at the Society of Neuroscience conference questioned whether it is safe and fair to allow healthy people to boost their brain function chemically, or use drugs to correct environmental factors like poverty or bad instruction that can lead to brain deficits similar to those that characterize medical conditions like attention-deficit disorders.
What Do Bullying and Youth Substance Use Have in Common?
Bullying and substance use among children and teenagers have shared risk and protective factors. Effective prevention efforts minimize these risk factors and maximize protective factors in a child’s life. If a problem has already surfaced, learn to recognize the warning signs of bullying and being bullied, underage alcohol use, and drug use to intervene before the problem becomes worse.
CDC Reports Sharp Decline in Teen Drinking and Driving
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today that among high school students 16 and older, drinking and driving dropped 54 percent from 1991 to 2011, from 22.3 percent of students reporting they drank and drove in 1991 to 10.3 percent in 2011. Graduated driving license systems that restrict teenagers from full driving privileges for several years may have contributed, the CDC said, as may have rising gas prices and economic downturn, which could have cut the miles teens are driving, especially in the last few years.
Middle Schools Add a Team Rule: Get a Drug Test
Children in grades as low as middle school are being told that providing a urine sample is required to play sports or participate in extracurricular activities like drama and choir. Such drug testing at the middle school level is confounding students and stirring objections from parents and proponents of civil liberties.
Reclaiming Futures Webinar To Explore Adolescent Recovery Supports
On September 27, 2012, at 2 p.m. E.T., Reclaiming Futures will present the free, 1-hour Webinar “Implementing Adolescent Recovery Supports and Developing Resources in Our Communities.” The presenter, Michelle Muffett-Lipinski, who is principal of the Northshore Recovery High School in Beverly, MA, and co-founder of the icanhelp project, will outline successes and challenges in developing recovery programming within schools and communities, describe responses to mental health and substance abuse issues in schools, and discuss approaches to identifying and engaging youth in need of support.
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
In October, the Office of National Drug Control Policy is celebrating National Substance Abuse Prevention Month by commemorating the first National Above the Influence (ATI) Day. This will be an opportunity for youth and local youth-serving partners to demonstrate the power of staying above the negative influences that can lead to substance use. Instructional webinars will be available for those who want to learn more about ATI Day and what you can do in your community.
National Survey Outlines Drug Use in Schools
A national survey was issued this week highlighting findings that drugs are becoming accessible to teens and high schools more now than even before. Results of the survey showed that nearly nine out of 10 high school students, 86 percent of those surveyed, say that some classmates drink, use drugs and smoke during the school day.
DEA to Medical-Pot Shops: Get Away From Schools
For the past few years, as businesses associated with medical marijuana have proliferated in Western Washington, federal prosecutors have taken mostly a hands-off approach. On Thursday, however, the feds issued the clearest threat yet to 23 medical-cannabis dispensaries in the region: Shut down or else. The issue was their location, within 1,000 feet of an "educational facility or other prohibited area."
Students Smoking Fewer Cigarettes, But Cigar Use Up
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that, while cigarette smoking among American middle and high school students has been declining, the use of cigars is rising among some groups of students. Hiking the price of tobacco products, limiting ads, and media campaigns have worked at getting kids to stop smoking or keep them from starting, the CDC said, and those interventions should continue as part of a national comprehensive anti-tobacco program.
Teen Drinkers May Feel Like Social Outcasts: Study
A study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior revealed that teen drinkers were more likely to feel like social outcasts than nondrinkers, particularly in schools with tight cliques and fewer students who abuse alcohol. Researchers also found that loneliness and social isolation were directly tied to poor school performance.
Survey: Gay Teens Less Likely to be Happy
Gay and lesbian teenagers across the United States are less likely to be happy, more likely to report harassment and more inclined to experiment with drugs and alcohol than the nation's straight teens, according to a new nationwide survey of more than 10,000 gay and lesbian young people.
Kids Who Bully May Be More Likely to Smoke, Drink
Middle and high school students who bully their classmates are more likely to use cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana than other students, according to a new study.
U.S. Report Examines Youth Tobacco Use, Prevention
More work needs to be done to keep young Americans from using tobacco, including creating smoking bans and increasing taxes on tobacco products to deter youth, the U.S. Surgeon General's office said in a report released Thursday. The report said it's particularly important to stop young people from using tobacco because those who start smoking as teenagers can increase their chances of long-term addiction.
Study Finds Young Adults Who Don’t Smoke or Drink Heavily Help Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Young adults who avoid smoking and heavy drinking, and who eat a healthy diet, exercise and stay lean, reduce their risk of developing heart disease when they reach middle age, a new study indicates.
After-School Programs May Reduce Adolescent Alcohol Use
Voluntary after-school programs on drug and alcohol use could be successful in curbing alcohol use in middle school students, says a recent RAND Corp. study. The study evaluates CHOICE, a voluntary after-school program that instructs middle school students about drugs and alcohol, ways to resist using both, and what harmful impacts they can have.
Too Many Kids Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in Cars
In the first national estimate of its kind, a report from government researchers says more than 1 in 5 high school students and middle schoolers ride in cars while others are smoking. This kind of secondhand smoke exposure has been linked with breathing problems and allergy symptoms, and more restrictions are needed to prevent it, the report says.
Survey Finds More Pot-Smoking, Less Cigarette Use Among Nation's Teens
The latest annual survey from the University of Michigan shows fewer students are drinking and smoking cigarettes, but more are turning to marijuana and prescription drugs.
Substance Abuse Greater Problem Among Rural Youth
The problem is influenced in part by rural communities limited expectations for students' futures, according to a new study.
How to Cut Crime, Alcoholism and Addiction? It's Not Elementary, But Preschool
To cut crime, raise education and income levels, and reduce addiction rates among the poor, no program offers more bang for the buck than preschool, as a new study published in Science demonstrates.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
This spring, the Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community partners will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. On Saturday, April 30th, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, DEA and its partners will hold their second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at sites nationwide. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
To learn more, visit the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day website.
School Climate Survey Compendium (as of December 20, 2011)
To assist educators and education agencies in locating a valid and reliable needs assessment that suits their needs, the Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center is developing a compendium of student, staff, and family surveys that can be used as part of a school climate needs assessment. Below is an initial list of school climate survey batteries. (Alternatively, click here to download a summary table (PDF) of each survey by respondent type.)
Please note that the Office of Safe and Healthy Students does not endorse any particular scale or survey presented in this compendium. Additionally, the database presented is not an exhaustive listing of available measures or survey instruments. If you would like to nominate a survey that is not currently included in the compendium, click on the link below.
Nominate a Survey
Alaska School Climate and Connectedness Survey
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Constructs |
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Respondents |
Students, Staff |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
These survey instruments are not publicly available. Please contact Kim Kendziora at kkendziora@air.org for more information about this survey. |
American Institutes for Research Conditions for Learning Survey
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Constructs |
Safe and Respectful Climate, High Expectations, Student Support, Social and Emotional Learning |
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Respondents |
Students |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
There is no charge for using this survey. Please contact David Osher at dosher@air.org for additional information. |
California Healthy Kids Survey
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Constructs |
School connectedness, School supports - caring relationships, School supports - high expectations, School supports - opportunities for meaningful participation, Community supports - caring relationships, Community supports - high expectations, Community supports - opportunities for meaningful participation, Tobacco, alcohol, or drug use at school, Physical/ verbal/emotional violence victimization, Physical/ verbal/emotional violence perpetration, Harassment victimization, Peer supports - caring relationships, Peer supports - high expectations, Home supports - caring relationships, Home supports - high expectations, Home supports - opportunities for meaningful participation, Problem solving Self-efficacy, Cooperation and communication, Empathy, Self-awareness |
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Respondents |
Students |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
Please note that while a copy of the survey instrument is publicly available at http://chks.wested.org/administer/download, it is copyright protected. Information on obtaining the survey instrument can be found at: http://chks.wested.org/. |
California School Climate Survey
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Constructs |
Collegiality, Resource provisions and training, Professional development – instruction, Professional development – cultural competence, Professional development – meeting student needs, Positive student learning environment, Caring and respectful relationships, High expectations of students, Opportunities for meaningful participation, Cultural sensitivity, Clarity and equity of discipline policies, Perceived school safety, Learning facilitative behavior, Learning barrier – risk behavior, Learning barrier – interpersonal conflict and destructive behavior |
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Respondents |
Staff |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
Please note that while a copy of the survey instrument is publicly available at http://cscs.wested.org/training_support, it is copyright protected. Information on obtaining the survey instrument can be found at: http://cscs.wested.org/. |
California School Parents Survey
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Constructs |
Facilitation of parent involvement, Positive student learning environment, Opportunities for meaningful participation, Cultural sensitivity, Clarity and equity of discipline policies, Perceived school safety, Learning barriers |
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Respondents |
Parents |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
Please note that while a copy of the survey instrument is publicly available at http://csps.wested.org/, it is copyright protected. Information on obtaining the survey instrument can be found at: http://cscs.wested.org/. |
The Center for Research in Educational Policy School Climate Inventory
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Constructs |
Orderly School Environment; Instructional Leadership; Positive Learning Environment; Parent and Community Involvement; Well-Developed and Implemented Instruction; Expectations for Students; Collaboration among Administration, Faculty, and Students |
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Respondents |
Teachers, Administrators and Professional Staff |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
This survey instrument is not publicly available. Please contact the Center for Research in Educational Policy at CREP@memphis.edu or 1-866-670-6147 for more information. |
The Center for Social and Emotional Education Comprehensive School Climate Inventory
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Constructs |
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|
Respondents |
Students, Staff, Parents/Guardians, Community Members |
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Reports |
|
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Survey Instruments |
These survey instruments are not publicly available. Please contact Darlene Faster, COO and Director of Communications, at the National School Climate Center at dfaster@schoolclimate.org or (212) 707-8799 x22 for more information on these surveys. |
Communities That Care Youth Survey
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Constructs |
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Respondents |
Students |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
The 2010 survey instrument is not publicly available. Please contact Michael Arthur at marthur@u.washinton.edu for information about this survey. |
The Consortium on Chicago School Research Survey of Chicago Public Schools
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Constructs |
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Respondents |
Students, Staff |
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Reports |
|
|
Survey Instruments |
Student surveys are available at http://ccsr.uchicago.edu/downloads/17242009_my_voice__9th-11th_student_codebook_.pdf and http://ccsr.uchicago.edu/downloads/23532009_my_voice_senior_student_codebook.pdf. Staff survey is available at http://ccsr.uchicago.edu/downloads/2009/HS_Teacher_Survey09Cdbk_8-6.pdf. Please note that the student and staff surveys are currently being updated and are copyrighted. Please contact Nick Montgomery at nmontgomery@uchicago.edu for additional information on these surveys. |
Culture of Excellence & Ethics Assessment
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Constructs |
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Respondents |
Students, Faculty/Staff, Parents |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
These survey instruments can be used free of charge, subject to the conditions of the User Agreement, and can be found at: http://excellenceandethics.com/assess/ceea.php. Please contact Vlad Khmelkov at vkhmelkov@excellenceandethics.com for additional information. |
Effective School Battery
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Constructs |
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Respondents |
Students, Teachers |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
Additional information and order forms for these survey instruments can be found at: http://www.education.umd.edu/EDCP/schoolassess/Tools/ESB/ESB.html. Please contact Eva Yui at climate-assess@umd.edu for additional information. |
Perceived School Experiences Scale
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Constructs |
Academic Motivation, Academic Press, School Connectedness |
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Respondents |
Students |
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Reports |
|
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Survey Instruments |
There is no charge for using this survey. Please contact Dawn Anderson-Butcher at anderson-butcher.1@osu.edu for additional information. |
Pride Learning Environment Survey
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Constructs |
School climate; teacher and student respect; student discipline; school safety; teacher to student relationships; teacher collaboration; student engagement; student encouragement; frequency of substance use; effect of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; age of first substance use; perceived harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; parents’ feelings towards alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; place of substance use; time of substance use; violence; bullying |
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Respondents |
Students |
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Reports |
|
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Survey Instruments |
Please note that while a copy of the survey instrument is publicly available at http://dbdemo.pridesurveys.com, it is copyright protected. Information on obtaining the survey instrument can be found at: |
Pride Teaching Environment Survey
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Constructs |
Like Teaching, Like Administrators – My School, Like Administrators – Instructional Leadership, Effective Teaching, Teacher Evaluation, Principal Support, Teacher Respect, Participatory Decision-making, Staff Collegiality, Desired Involvement in Improving Teaching Practices, Current Involvement in School Policies and Practices, Desired Involvement in Teaching Practice Policies, Student Discipline, Student Conduct Rules/Policies, Teacher Stress, Classroom Support, Teacher Attitude, Interpersonal Relationships, Student Engagement, Teacher Pay, Facilities and Resources, Teacher Workload |
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Respondents |
Faculty |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
Please note that while a copy of the survey instrument is publicly available at http://dbdemo.pridesurveys.com, it is copyright protected. Information on obtaining the survey instrument can be found at: |
Search Institute Creating a Great Place to Learn Survey
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Constructs |
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Respondents |
Students, Staff |
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Reports |
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Survey Instruments |
These survey instruments are not publicly available. Please contact the Search Institute for additional information at http://www.search-institute.org/survey-services. |
Secondary Classroom Climate Assessment Instrument
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Constructs |
Discipline environment, Student interactions, Learning assessment, Attitude and culture |
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Respondents |
Students, Staff |
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Reports |
|
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Survey Instruments |
Survey instrument is not publicly available. Please contact John Shindler, Director of the Alliance for the Study of School Climate at jshindl@calstatela.edu for additional information on the CCAI. |
Secondary School Climate Assessment Instrument
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Constructs |
|
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Respondents |
Students, Faculty, Parents |
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Reports |
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|
Survey Instruments |
This survey instrument is not publicly available. Please contact John Shindler, Director of the Alliance for the Study of School Climate at jshindl@calstatela.edu for additional information on the SCAI. |
