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DePaoli, J., & McCombs, J. (2023). Safe schools, thriving students: Evidence-based strategies for creating safe and supportive schools. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/701.445
A rise in the number of school shootings over time has driven increasing attention to school safety. However, school shootings are not the only physical safety threat students may encounter at school. Other types of violence include sexual assault, robbery, physical attack or fights, and threats of physical attack (with or without a weapon). In addition to immediate physical harms, school violence can have long-lasting effects that undermine students’ engagement and mental health. It can also increase drug use and risk of suicide. Although there is widespread agreement that all children and youth deserve a safe and healthy school environment, there is significant debate about how best to promote student safety.
This report summarizes the prevalence and effectiveness of strategies to improve student safety in schools. States, districts, and schools can look to existing research to understand more about the effectiveness of proposed strategies and the potential risk of unintended consequences.
Key Findings: Investments in Physical Security
- Security cameras are used by the vast majority of schools (91% in 2019–20) but there is no evidence that they improve school safety.
- Metal detectors provide the perception of safety, but none of the studies examining their efficacy show they reduced the number of reported threats, physical fights, or student victimization in school.
- School resource officers—sworn law enforcement officers with arrest powers—have been found to have limited effects on school safety and no effect on gun-related incidents. However, their presence can lead to negative student outcomes if they are engaged in daily discipline, including increased suspensions, expulsions, police referrals, and student arrests, especially for Black students and students with disabilities.
Key Findings: Investments in Student Supports
- Mental health supports have been shown to benefit students and schools. Multiple studies have found that counselors can reduce disciplinary incidents and disciplinary recidivism while increasing academic achievement, especially for boys. However, schools’ ability to provide needed support is strained and only 42% of schools offer mental health treatment services.
- Social and emotional learning programs have been found in hundreds of studies to reduce behavior problems and emotional distress, increase positive behavior, improve perceptions of safety and relationships with others, and increase student engagement and achievement.
- Restorative practices—an alternative to exclusionary discipline practices—build community and teach strategies for resolving conflict. Studies of restorative practices and programs consistently find that they improve school safety, reduce the use of exclusionary discipline, decrease rates of student misbehavior and victimization, and improve school climate.
- Structures that support positive developmental relationships within schools, such as small learning communities, advisory systems, smaller class sizes, and strong school–family connections can help prevent physical violence and bullying, among other things. A major national study of more than 36,000 secondary students found that school connectedness was the strongest protective factor against school absenteeism, substance abuse, and violence. Another study found that positive relationships significantly enhanced the odds of students communicating potential threats to adults.
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