School Safety: The Efforts of States and School Programs To Make Schools Safe

• NCJ Number: 180854
• Journal: Policy and Practice Dated: 1999 Pages: 1-12
• Author(s): Shaun E. Bernier
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper recounts the experiences of State education and criminal justice officials in three States (Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi) that have experienced incidences of school violence in recent years, and it highlights selected programs and approaches to school safety that are apparently effective and work in tandem with other community resources and initiatives.

Abstract

All three of the States have experienced a fatal shooting incident in a school. According to State education and criminal justice officials in these States, efforts to address school safety in their States have intensified since the recent shootings. This paper describes four school safety programs that have used different but effective approaches for combating school violence. Project ACHIEVE is a schoolwide prevention and early intervention program that targets elementary-aged and school-aged students who are academically and socially at risk. The project involves comprehensive schoolwide planning efforts to address academic and behavioral problems. Its goal is to reduce disciplinary referrals by providing schoolwide prevention services in every classroom. The program teaches students social skills, problem-solving methods, and anger management techniques. A second program, Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS), is designed to promote emotional competence through expression, understanding, and regulation of emotions; it teaches students social problem-solving skills. A third program, Families and Schools Together (FAST), is designed to address the social problems of youth violence and juvenile delinquency by building and enhancing students' relationship with their families, peers, teachers, and other members of the community. The fourth program, Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.), is designed to reduce youth violence and gang membership through a curriculum taught by police officers primarily to middleschool students. All of the school officials interviewed emphasize the importance of all community institutions and residents becoming involved in efforts to address the community and family factors that can lead to school violence. 7 notes and a list of 10 resources