This edition of the annual report presents an updated description of the nature and extent of crime and violence on school property. It captures the spirit of the newest communities around the country that have paid special attention to one chapter in particular from the 1998 Annual Report, entitled "What Communities Can Do Through…

This paper analyzes Pennsylvania's Safe Schools Act of 1995 and 1997, discussing decisions that led to its adoption and its impact on Pennsylvania schools from 1995 to 2001. It presents a history of media reports on school violence, and discusses the national experience, zero tolerance and its effects, and Pennsylvania's answer to school violence.…

This report is the second in a series of studies on the serious threat toxic chemical use may pose to the health of Vermont's children, teachers, and school staff. The first report, "Toxic Chemical Exposure in Schools: Our Children at Risk," provided an overview of the problem of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and discussed…

Since June 1999, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Secret Service have been working as a team to better understand--and ultimately help prevent--school shootings in America. Findings indicated that incidents of targeted violence in school were rarely impulsive; that the students who perpetrated attacks usually planned them out in…

This booklet contains information and guidelines for the safe use and handling of chemicals in laboratories and student classrooms. The theme of this handbook is prevention of accidents with chemicals which involves chemical knowledge and the habit of safety. Topics include: (1) safety in the use and handling of hazardous chemicals; (2) teaching…

This bulletin outlines the major components of a crisis-preparedness and response plan for schools. It lists the critical components of a safe-school plan, such as community coordination, curriculum, proactive student discipline policies and procedures, safe physical environment, school security, staff and student training, evaluation and…

This report documents survey results in three areas concerning Wisconsin public schools: data on the physical structure and mechanical features of the school building; data on school safety issues; and information on the educational appropriateness and suitability of the school buildings. Appendices provide the school facility survey; and lists of…

In an emergency response to the recent spree of school shootings, a group of experts came together to draft a national action plan on school violence and children. Participants included: almost 60 members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Leadership; several mayors from communities which had recently experienced school shootings; police chiefs;…

This report focuses on the activities of the National Institute of Justice in 1998. It begins by discussing the organization and its financial data. Funding growth and collaborative activities since 1994 are also described. Overviews of basic and applied research, technology development, testing the research and technology, initiatives with other…

The Gun Free Schools Act (GFSA) requires states to report information about the implementation of the act annually to the Secretary of Education. This report starts by presenting information on data interpretation and quality. Three sections summarize the 1998-99 data submitted by the states. The first section is a brief summary of the overall…

School districts in the Education Service Center, Region 2, (southern Texas) were surveyed to examine procedures the districts have put in place to identify threats of violence to school safety and security. The target population was 47 school districts. Data collection was done using mailed questionnaires with a simple yes/no answer format.…

This document contains the transcript and related written statements of a hearing held to discuss the safety standards and practices of study abroad programs. The tragedies that have occurred in recent years are not the norm in study abroad, but they focus attention on this rapidly growing and unstructured field. The report contains the opening…

Violence at school can have a significant impact on young people, affecting their mental health, academic achievement, and socialization and adjustment. This brief examines that impact. It begins by defining school violence and examining the prevalence of exposure to, and victimization from, violence at school within a developmental framework. The…

This workshop and planning guide is designed to help stakeholders create safe schools for students. The guide is intended to be used with three 20-minute videotape programs that feature an inside look at two schools that actively involved their communities in improving school safety. The three videos--"Building the Team,""The Safe School…

This booklet presents ways to ensure student safety in Texas schools. It offers a 10-step plan that, when implemented in a systematic way, can reduce acts of school violence. The steps are divided into three components: prevention, intervention, and enforcement. In prevention it is important to know the goals and objectives; to be proactive; to…