Technical Assistance
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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.
Balancing Student Privacy and School Safety: A Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for Elementary and Secondary Schools
Discusses, according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, under what emergency situations it is acceptable, for safety reasons, that a school override the "written consent" requirement.
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools
Offers research-based practices designed to assist school communities identify these warning signs early and develop prevention, intervention and crisis response plans.
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.
Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities
Gives schools, districts, and communities the critical concepts and components of good crisis planning, stimulates thinking about the crisis preparedness process, and provides examples of promising practices.
Psychosocial Issues for Children and Adolescents in Disasters
Offers resources for those working with children in the wake of disaster. Discusses theories of child development as applied to a youth experiencing the fear, anxiety, and trauma of disaster. Offers practical suggestions, case studies, and a resource guide.
Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide
Provides a comprehensive model that can lead to safer schools and information about technical assistance centers and evidence-based resources that schools can draw upon to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the particular safety needs of their schools and communities.
Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates
Details a process for identifying, assessing, and managing students who may pose a threat of targeted violence in schools; includes suggestions for developing a threat assessment team within a school or school district, steps to take when a threat or other information of concern comes to light, consideration about when to involve law enforcement personnel, issues of information sharing, and ideas for creating safe school climates.
Tips for Helping Students Recovering from Traumatic Events
Provides practical information for parents and students who are coping with the aftermath of a natural disaster, as well as teachers, coaches, school administrators and others who are helping those affected.
Safe Communities, Safe Schools: School Safety Glossary
Simple, concise tool for schools, families, and communities.
Websites
New York State Center for School Safety
Provides support to schools, families, communities and government organizations throughout the state of NY as a government coordinating agency and information clearinghouse on school safety. Houses resources like briefs, factsheets, archived webinars, and newsletters.
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.
School Safety Partners
Dedicated to creating long-term funding partnerships to support school safety best practices. Offers webinars and information kits about improving school safety legislation and finding long-term funding solutions.
Emergency Planning for Schools
Provides information that can help school leaders plan for any emergency, including natural disasters, violent incidents and terrorist acts.
News Clips
After the Tragedy, What Next?
School districts are required to have detailed plans for crisis prevention and response, but an often-overlooked element in this planning is addressing what to do in the long-term aftermath of tragedy. After a tragedy, everything is in turmoil; it is not the easiest time to make difficult decisions about moving forward. That’s why some decisions should be thought out in advance, writes Carolyn Lunsford Mears.
Principals' Union: We Need National School Safety Task Force
In the wake of the shootings in Newtown, Conn., the American Federation of School Administrators is calling for a national task force specifically on school safety. The task force, the goals of which were outlined in a press release dated Dec. 18, would focus on standards for establishing best practices in school safety, for implementing those best practices, and for determining what resources are needed to establish them.
School Shootings' Effects Felt in Districts Nationwide
Three days after the deadliest K-12 school shooting in American history, state and district education leaders across the country are reviewing security measures, increasing police presence, and grappling with how to answer students’ questions about the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the Newtown, Conn., district.
Hurricane Sandy-Stricken Belmar Families Get Help, Support From School Teachers
Hurricane Sandy devastated communities along the east coast, and kept New Jersey and New York students out of school for a week or more. Families went umpteen days without power or heat. In Belmar, N.J., Belmar Elementary School teachers went door-to-door, offering help to their students victimized by the storm. For those who need shelter and hot food, the teachers were able to bring about 50 students to the still powerless school for lunch -- and reading.
N.J. Governor Signs Law Requiring Defibrillators in Schools
Starting Sept. 1, 2014, all public and private K-12 schools in New Jersey must have automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) on site and in an unlocked location. The law also requires schools to create emergency action plans (EAPs) for responding to sudden cardiac events. Schools must list in their EAPs at least five employees who are currently trained in the use of an AED. They also must specify which employee is responsible for which task in the case of a sudden cardiac event (e.g., calling 911, retrieving the AED, etc.).
Secretaries Arne Duncan and Janet Napolitano Encourage Communities to Participate in National Earthquake Drill
The 2012 "Great ShakeOut" will be conducted on October 18. This drill, which can be conducted in as little as 90 seconds, provides a timely and relevant opportunity for the entire community to get prepared, practice what to do to be safe ("Drop, Cover, and Hold On"), and learn what emergency plans need to be improved. Schools, colleges, universities, businesses, organizations, and households will all participate.
States Fail to Meet Disaster-Preparedness Standards
In its "National Report Card on Protecting Children During Disasters," the Wesport, Conn.-based organization found that 33 states and the District of Columbia do not meet at least one of four disaster-preparedness standards, which include having several different plans in the event of an emergency: for evacuating children during an emergency; for assisting children with disabilities, for reuniting families after a disaster, and multi-hazard plans for K-12 schools.
CO Panel: Strict School Discipline Should Be Scrapped
Colorado lawmakers and police said Monday that strict disciplinary policies at schools created after the Columbine High School shootings should be scaled back or scrapped and that administrators should have more control over student punishment.
Senate Leaders Co-Sponsor Interoperable Communications in Schools Bill
Democrat and Republican leaders in the Colorado Senate co-sponsored the first school safety bill in the nation calling for statewide communications interoperability that includes all schools.
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students, Staff |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
Safe and Respectful Climate, High Expectations, Student Support, Social and Emotional Learning |
Respondents |
Students |
Reports |
|
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
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 |
Respondents |
Students |
Reports |
|
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
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 |
Respondents |
Staff |
Reports |
|
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
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 |
Respondents |
Parents |
Reports |
|
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
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 |
Respondents |
Teachers, Administrators and Professional Staff |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students, Staff, Parents/Guardians, Community Members |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students, Staff |
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students, Faculty/Staff, Parents |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students, Teachers |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
Academic Motivation, Academic Press, School Connectedness |
Respondents |
Students |
Reports |
|
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
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 |
Respondents |
Students |
Reports |
|
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
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 |
Respondents |
Faculty |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students, Staff |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
Discipline environment, Student interactions, Learning assessment, Attitude and culture |
Respondents |
Students, Staff |
Reports |
|
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
Constructs |
|
Respondents |
Students, Faculty, Parents |
Reports |
|
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. |