School Safety

Although many schools are safe, others can be just as susceptible to crime and violence as other environments. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 17 children and teens were killed at school and five children killed themselves in the year ending June 30, 2002. Moreover, in a 2001 survey by the National School Safety Center (NSSC), more than 60 percent of high school boys and 15 percent of middle school boys said they could get a gun if they wanted to. At the same time, 69 percent of high school and 27 percent of middle school boys said they knew how to get drugs. Thirty percent of the kids reported being bullied. In what could be an ominous precursor to adult behavior, nearly a quarter of the students in another 2001 survey published by NSSC reported that they knew at least one student at their school who had been a victim of dating violence. There are no easy answers to the disturbing questions these statistics raise, but it is clear that collaboration between parents, educators, law enforcement, and crime prevention practitioners is essential.

Information about School Safety

Tips for Administrators
A simple list of ways to help keep kids safe at school

What Parents Can Do
Advice for parents on making sure their kids stay safe at school and while traveling to and from school

Advice for Kids
McGruff's advice for kids on staying safe at school at McGruff.org

Strategies
Techniques that adults can use to keep kids safe at school

Training on School Safety

Campus Crime Prevention
Professional Training From NCPC and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)

School Safety and Needs Assessment
Professional training from NCPC for youth and adults on creating a safe school environment

Publications and Products on School Safety

Get the Message! McGruff's Tool Kit to Keep Children Safe
This kit includes background information for educators, daily messages for students to be read over the school's PA system, classroom activities for teachers, reproducible brochures for parents (in English and Spanish), and a colorful poster.

Safer Schools: Strategies for Educators and Law Enforcement
This guide speaks to school principals and local chiefs of police about ways they can work together to make schools safer for our children.

School Safety and Security Toolkit: A Guide for Parents, Schools, and Communities
This toolkit gives parents instruments to work with school personnel and policymakers to determine actions to enhance the safety and security of their children’s schools.

Programs on School Safety

Be Safe and Sound in School
B3S is a program that seeks to raise awareness of school safety and security issues and provide the tools and resources needed to effectively address them.

Teens, Crime, and the Community
The Teens, Crime, and the Community (TCC) initiative has motivated more than one million young people to create safer schools and neighborhoods.

Downloadable Resources on School Safety