West Virginia |
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is implementing several programs that are designed to help its schools ensure they are safe and supportive, thereby improving student outcomes. Below is a description of one such program.
Safe Supportive Schools
With a U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Healthy Students Safe and Supportive Schools grant, WVDE is implementing measurement systems and structures that promote the awareness of school climate and safety, and increase school capacity to plan, implement, and monitor appropriate, evidence-based interventions. Goal one focuses on collecting representative school climate data from which a school safety score information system will be developed. Goal two focuses on developing a strong human resources component designed to provide facilitation of the improvement planning process and to address the identified need for better coordination of resources and evidence based programming.
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) collects school climate data via two data collections as part of the Healthy Education Assessment Project (HEAP). Biannually, WVDE surveys high school students for the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) regarding violence, suicide, alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, sexual risks, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, body image, diet and physical activity. This survey is used to assess and monitor behaviors that place individuals at increased risk for premature morbidity and mortality. And then annually WVDE compiles data on all reports of disciplinary action.
On a biannual basis, West Virginia 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 West Virginia and the United States.
Indicator 1: Percent of Students Who Reported That They Had Been Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property One Or More Times (for example, a gun, knife, or club during the 12 months before the survey)(2009)
View Larger
Indicator 2: Percentage of Students in Grades 9-12 Who Reported Having Been in a Physical Fight On School Property At Least One Time During the Previous 12 Months (2009)
View Larger
Indicator 3: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Were Offered, Sold, Or Given An Illegal Drug By Someone On School Property (2009)
View Larger
Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide (2009)
View Larger
Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Have Not Participated In At Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity On Any Day (2009)
View Larger
Indicator 6: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Ate Fruits And Vegetables Five Or More Times Per Day (2007)
View Larger
Indicator 1: Percent of Students Who Reported That They Had Been Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property One Or More Times (for example, a gun, knife, or club during the 12 months before the survey) (2009)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2009. Surveillance Summaries, June 4, 2010. MMWR 2010;59(No. SS-5).
NOTE: 95% confidence interval
Indicator 2: Percentage of Students in Grades 9-12 Who Reported Having Been in a Physical Fight On School Property At Least One Time During the Previous 12 Months (2009)
Robers, S., Zhang, J., and Truman, J. (2010). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2010 (NCES 2011-002/NCJ 230812). National Center for Education.
Indicator 3: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Were Offered, Sold, Or Given An Illegal Drug By Someone On School Property (2009)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2009. Surveillance Summaries, June 4, 2010. MMWR 2010;59(No. SS-5).
NOTE: 95% confidence interval
Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide (2009)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance�United States, 2009. Surveillance Summaries, June 4, 2010. MMWR 2010;59(No. SS-5).
NOTE: 95% confidence interval
Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Have Not Participated In At Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity On Any Day (2009)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2009. Surveillance Summaries, June 4, 2010. MMWR 2010;59(No. SS-5).MMWR
NOTE: 95% confidence interval
Indicator 6: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported That They Ate Fruits And Vegetables Five Or More Times Per Day (2007)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2007. Surveillance Summaries, June 6, 2008. MMWR
NOTE: 95% confidence interval
Upcoming Events
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
Research
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