Treating symptoms of school violence with material resources (for precautionary measures) has merit, but addressing underlying causes warrants a more comprehensive, collaborative approach. A caring community within each school and each classroom is linked to increases in students' social and academic development and decreases in destructive…

The School Safety Report Card is a promising awareness initiative on the World Wide Web that surveys stakeholders about school-safety issues. Results are confidential and anonymous and will be posted on the web. The model outlines the conceptual, behavioral, and psychological components for identifying and helping at-risk students. (MLH)

Describes educational benefits of providing teachers with wireless telephones. (PKP)

This article outlines a set of recommendations to college and university leaders and governing bodies on how to develop crisis-management systems to ensure that their institutions are as well prepared as possible for a wide range of crises. These recommendations are based, in part, on crisis-management programs developed for various business…

This article is based on an interview with a noted expert on school violence who recently co-authored the book Targeting Innocence--When Terrorism Comes to School. Central to school safety are supportive bonds with adults who help create school climates free of bullying. The expert interviewed is Michael Dorn. He recommends that in regard to…

This study examined recent exposure to violence in the community and in other settings, protective factors, and current psychological functioning among 349 young adolescents from 9 urban middle schools. The majority (76%) of adolescents reported witnessing or being victimized by at least 1 violent event in the prior 6 months. Nearly half of…

Maryland became the first state to use its authority under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to seize control of failing schools, as the state board of education this week ordered new management at 11 middle and high schools in Baltimore. Nancy S. Grasmick, Maryland's superintendent of schools, led the push to take over four high schools and to…

Although violent crime in schools has showed a steady decline in recent years, it remains a serious concern, and administrators are continually looking for more effective approaches to school safety. At the same time, the best school environments are not only safe and secure, but also attractive and comfortable. The right school setting can…

Playgrounds for early childhood programs are places where children can play freely--exploring the natural environment, learning about their bodies, creating friendships, and practicing physical skills. In April, 2000, The National Program for Playground Safety released the results of the most comprehensive national survey of child care, school,…

A flu outbreak at Madison Junior High School in Ohio prompted school officials to close the building for two days. At Webber Junior High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, where absenteeism recently hit 20 percent for two bad weeks, educators were forced to slow the pace of schoolwork so sick students did not fall behind. This article reports on…

This publication presents a collection of resources on violence prevention and safe schools. This document contains the following parts: (1) Introduction; (2) A Few Resource Aids; (3) Public Policy and Funding Opportunities; (4) More Resource Aids on Violence Prevention and Safe Schools; and (5) Concluding Comment. Individual sections contain…

The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and programs at the state, district, school, and classroom levels. This brief reports the results of the study in the area of alcohol- or other drug-use prevention, covering the following topics: (1) Health Education;…

More than $20 billion a year currently is being spent to construct public schools. Hundreds of billions are being spent to carry out public education. Everyone wants the best possible use of that money. Families want safe, nurturing, challenging, and effective schools for their children. Community members and policy-makers want schools to be…

Although schools have implemented school safety plans as a result of the violence witnessed on rare occasions in schools today, schools are less likely to be prepared for emergencies such as Katrina or 9/11; this is true even for schools in locations prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes. Whereas disaster plans typically involve school…

The display of antisocial behavior by children and youths in America is recognized as one of the most pressing concerns facing educators today. To meet the educational needs of these students while maintaining safe school environments, school districts across the nation have increasingly looked toward alternative educational programs.…