As the safety of U.S. schools has become an important public policy issue, interest in the problem of school bullying has intensified. As awareness of harassment, intimidation and hate in the school setting has grown, state legislatures have begun to address this problem. At least 16 states have passed anti-bullying laws, and similar measures were…

This booklet is part of a series of reports on "hot topics" in education. It presents information intended to cut through the hype and hysteria that often surrounds the subject of school violence. The booklet offers an overview of current research on school violence prevention, outlines some practical ideas for use in the classroom, and…

This study examined middle-school students' sociability self-concept and their perceptions of safety at school. A total of 421 students were administered anonymous questionnaires assessing perceived sociability self-concept and school safety. They were asked to rate their concern with, and exposure to, violence in four critical areas: use of…

This document presents guidelines on emergency response and business recovery for colleges and universities in the event of an earthquake. The guidelines, developed by California institutions and revised based on experience with the Northridge earthquake, are provided under the following headings: (1) "To the President or Chancellor";…

Parents of children in the Saugus Union School District in California were concerned about the safety of classrooms, particularly portable classrooms. Their concerns were amplified by assertions of a local medical toxicologist following evaluations of some teachers and students, and by an Environmental Working Group report about alleged problems…

This brochure offers guidance on bleacher retrofitting to prevent falls, and suggests follow-up inspections and maintenance practices. Bleacher styles are described along with descriptions of bleacher-associated deaths, injuries, and hazards. Retrofitting recommendations are offered for guardrails and openings followed by retrofit strategies and…

Describes the increased need for emergency lighting equipment for late evening events, adult education evening classes, and for the increasing use of the interior classroom. Explains the difference between central and unit lighting systems; clarifies the specifications in the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) as they apply to school…

A new lighting system at a Wisconsin elementary school involved replacing all the incandescent fixtures with either fluorescent, mercury vapor, or high-output fixtures. Group lamp replacement procedures instead of spot relamping are expected to save labor costs. (MLF)

Provides performance criteria for creating accessibility for and integration of children of all abilities within school playgrounds. Included are recommendations for accessible route designs; play equipment; sand and water play; gathering places and outdoor classrooms; entrances and signage; and fences, enclosures, and barriers. Proposed changes…

In response to legislation, colleges and universities in several states must prepare to install sprinkler systems. Four basic issues an engineering study should examine include: whether the existing water service has the size, capacity, and pressure to support a sprinkler system; whether the protected facility will have to comply with more…

Introduces "Students Against Violence Everywhere" (SAVE), describing a process for use in preparing for program evaluations. Suggests 10 evaluation questions for preparing essential information about the program being evaluated. Describes program information prepared by SAVE staff to inform evaluators about SAVE, their purposes in seeking…

Explores reasons for the decline in the number of fires in college and university residence halls and describes a four-pronged program called PODS (Prevention, Occupant awareness, Detection, and Suppression) to help administrators organize fire-prevention efforts. (EV)

Describes issues and solutions involving indoor air quality in school. Includes indoor air quality action plans, the role of the environmental consultant, and resources available to help school districts develop an indoor air quality action plan. (PKP)