Creating Safe and Supportive Schools

1. Creating Safe and Supportive Schools Sandra Keenan Williamson, Director SSS TA Center

2. About Safe and Supportive Schools Initiative

3. The Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students. Provides training and support to states, including 11 grantees funded under the Safe and Supportive Schools Program, their participating Local Education Agencies (districts). Provides information and technical assistance to schools, districts, communities, states and other federal grantees programs regarding the conditions for learning. Goal is to improve schools’ conditions for learning through measurement and program implementation, so that all students have the opportunity to realize academic success in safe and supportive environments. Page  3

4. Safe and Supportive Schools Website http://safesupportiveschools.ed.gov Page  4

5. Safe and Supportive Schools Initiative Funded Fall of 2010 It’s simple. Students can’t learn if they don’t feel safe.Period.Kevin Jennings, 2011

6. Students in a Safe and Supportive Schools Feel…………..Every Student Feels Like… They Belong. They are Valued. They are Physically and Emotionally Safe.

7. Tie Safe Schools into Ed Reform Agenda

8. Safe and Supportive Schools A New Approach to K-12 School Safety

9. Winners of Safe and Supportive Schools Grants Arizona California Iowa Louisiana Kansas Maryland Michigan South Carolina Tennessee West Virginia Wisconsin

10. GPRA Measures for SSS Program 1. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience a decrease in the percentage of students who report current (30-day) alcohol use; 2. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience an increase in the percentage of students who report current (30-day) alcohol use; 3. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience a decrease in the percentage of students who report personal harassment or bullying on school property during the current school year; 4. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience an increase in the percentage of students who report personal harassment or bullying on school property during the current school year; Page 10

11. GPRA Measures for SSS Program 5. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience an improvement in their school safety score; 6. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience a worsening in their school safety score; 7. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience a decrease in the number of suspensions for violent incidents without physical injury; and 8. Percentage of eligible schools implementing programmatic interventions funded by Safe and Supportive Schools that experience an increase in the number of suspensions for violent incidents without physical injury. Page 11

12. A Closer Look at School Climate….

13. Where Do You Intervene? Provide coordinated, intensive, sustained, culturally competent, individualized, child- and family- driven and focused services and supports that address needs while building assets. Implement strategies and provide supports that address risk factors and build protective factors for students at risk for severe academic or behavioral difficulties. Universal prevention & youth social skill development approaches, caring school climate, positive & proactive approach to discipline, personalized instruction, cultural competence, & strong family involvement. Page 13

14. Where Do You Intervene? Page 14

15. School Climate Frameworks • Practitioners and researchers agree that school climate is a broad concept and should at least include several aspects: Page  15

16. School Experiences Which Contribute to a Healthy • School Climate and Academic Achievement • Connection • Safety • Positive Relationships With Adults And Peers • Caring Interactions • Academic Challenges • Academic Support • Academic Engagement • Positive Role Modeling • Social Emotional Learning • Positive Behavioral Supports • Access to Needed Services And Supports Page  16

17. School Experiences Which Contribute to Poor • School Climate and Low Academic Achievement • Lack of connection • Danger • Teasing, Bullying, Gangs • Negative Relationships With Adults And Peers • Uncaring interactions • Low expectations • Academic disengagement • Academic frustration • Poor role models • School-driven Mobility • Reactive punitive approaches to discipline Page  17

18. Benefits of Improved School Climate Improved test scores Improved graduation rates Improved school safety Improved student attendance Reduced drop-out rate Improved working environment (student-teacher and peer relationships) Higher rates of teacher satisfaction Page  18

19. Conditions for Learning: Key Aspects of School Climate Which Support Enhanced School Academic Outcomes • Students are safe • Physically safe • Emotionally and socially safe • Treated fairly and equitably • Avoid risky behaviors • School is safe and orderly • Students are supported • Meaningful connection to adults • Strong bonds to school • Positive peer relationships • Effective and available support • Students are challenged • High expectations • Strong personal motivation • School is connected to life goals • Rigorous academic opportunities • Students are socially capable • Emotionally intelligent and culturally competent • Responsible and persistent • Cooperative team players • Contribute to school community Page  19

20. Safe and Supportive Schools InitiativeYear 1 and Year 2

21. Year 1: School Climate Measurement Each grantee had to decide what student, staff and family survey they would use with their participating schools. They had to develop a formula for school safety scores. Surveys had to be administered. Surveys had to analyzed and data reported. Incident data, combined with survey data (according to formula) was compiled and resulting school safety scores were posted. Participating LEA’s were designated by the states. Page 21

22. Year 2: Implementation of Evidence Based Practices Participating schools organized some team (school climate teams) within the schools, who have the responsibility to review their survey and incident data, and choose which practices to implement. The review school wide incident data throughout the school year on a routine basis. Surveys are administered again in Spring 2012. School Safety Scores are compiled and posted again prior to new school year. Page 22

23. SSS LEA Data(n=210): Identified Needs 2011 Page 23

24. Safe and Supportive Schools Website http://safesupportiveschools.ed.gov Page  24

25. Access Resources of the TA Center Please visit our website at: safeandsupportiveschools.ed.gov Email us at: SSSTA@air.org Join us each month for our School Climate, Data, and Implementation Webinar series. Next Webinar is on Bullying Prevention on July 25 and 26, 2012. Contact: swilliamson@air.org Page 25

26. Questions? ? ? ? Page 26