Over 20 years of GLSEN's Research has established that schools are not safe or welcoming spaces for LGBTQ youth, who face hostile school climates due to their sexual orientation, gender, and gender expression. Further, findings from our biennial National School Climate Survey have historically shown that transgender and nonbinary students (i.e.,…

Sports participation has positive effects on youth development, improving physical health, social skills and psychological well-being. Additionally, research has found that sports participation is related to greater feelings of school belonging and pro-school behaviors. Despite these benefits, some research has found negative effects of sports…

While violence against children (VAC) has been a long-established global concern, more recently attention has been drawn to how violence occurs in and around schools (VACS) and the role of education in preventing and responding to violence. Whilst awareness about VACS is growing, more robust data are needed to inform policy and practice. Concerns…

The federal Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA) was introduced into law as part of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. The federal law requires states funded under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 to have a state law in effect that requires local education agencies (LEAs) to expel students for firearm offenses for a…

At least 25 million K-12 students in the U.S.--disproportionately children of color from low-income families--have been physically out of school for a full year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These children are at risk of significant academic, social, mental, and physical harm now and in the long-term; it is thus essential that all students gain…

The purpose of this study was to examine how school leaders in the state of North Dakota define success in their schools or districts without using test scores as a measurement. The information shared by these school leaders will be shared with other school leaders in North Dakota with the intent that test data becomes less of a driving force in…

In June, President Biden announced a comprehensive strategy to combat gun violence and other violent crime, including preventive measures proven to reduce violent crime and attack its root causes. This strategy encourages using the American Rescue Plan's (ARP's) historic funding levels, including the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency…

Ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff is a multifaceted challenge that requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) to navigate myriad threats, hazards, and risks. Concerns about safety and security at IHE campuses encompass everything from various forms of violence to the safety of pedestrian traffic, to the security of personal…

This is the second of 2 reports that look at the results of TIMSS 2023 and Australia's performance. This report, Volume II, presents the results from the contextual questionnaires, and examines the home, school, and classroom contexts in which learning and achievement occur, as well as student attitudes. Each chapter focuses on different…

Transgender/gender diverse students report experiences of feeling unsafe in school due to their gender identity and expression (Greytak, Kosciw, & Boesen, 2013). School support personnel (e.g., school psychologists, counselors, and social workers) are well positioned to collaborate with stakeholders to promote a safe and supportive environment…

Forest School's innovative outdoor approach offers specific benefits to learners with autism, including increased social skills, raised self-esteem and improved sensory function. This guide raises autism awareness amongst practitioners by providing practical and easy-to-follow advice for adapting Forest School activities for those with autism. For…

Over the past two decades, there has been rapid growth in understanding of bullying in schools and its many negative effects. The reported incidence of bullying and other school violence has increased over time, and UNESCO recently estimated that 246 million children and adolescents experience violence in and around school every year (UNESCO…

In this stirring follow-up to the award-winning "Fostering Resilient Learners," Kristin Van Marter Souers and Pete Hall take you to the next level of trauma-invested practice. To get there, they explain, educators need to build a "nest"--a positive learning environment shaped by three new Rs of education: relationship,…

This qualitative study explored the factors that affected King Unified School District's (KUSD's) successful attainment of their goal to instruct 100% of their administrators on their comprehensive safety plan, with a specific focus on active shooter violence prevention. Documents from the district were analyzed, and administrators from both the…

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113) provided $75 million for the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative (CSSI, or the Initiative) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Pub. L. 115-31) provided $50 million for CSSI. Senate Report 114-57 and Senate Report 114-239 instruct the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to…