Characteristics of a School that is
Safe and Responsive to all Children

Well functioning schools foster learning, safety, and socially appropriate behaviors. They have a strong academic focus and support students in achieving high standards, foster positive relationships, and promote meaningful parental and community involvement.

Effective prevention, intervention, and crisis response strategies operate best in school communities that:

Focus on academic achievement. Effective schools convey the attitude that all children can achieve academically, behave appropriately, and appreciate individual differences. Expectations are communicated clearly, with the understanding that meeting such expectations is a responsibility of the student, the school, and the home.

Involve families. Students whose families are involved are more likely to experience success and less likely to become involved in antisocial activities. Schools must make parents feel welcome, address barriers to their participation, and keep families positively engaged in their children's education. Effective schools also support families in getting the help they need to address behaviors that cause concern.

Develop links to the community. Schools that have close ties to the community can benefit from many valuable resources. When these links are weak, the risk of violence is heightened and the opportunity to serve children who are at risk for violence or who may be affected by it is decreased.

Emphasize positive relationships. Research shows that a positive relationship with an adult is one of the most critical factors in preventing violence. Students look to adults in the school community for guidance, support, and direction. Effective schools make sure that opportunities exist for adults to spend quality, personal time with children. Effective schools also encourage students to help each other.

Discuss safety issues. Schools can reduce the risk of violence by teaching children about the dangers of firearms, as well as strategies for dealing with feelings, expressing anger in appropriate ways, and resolving conflicts. Schools also should teach children that they are responsible for their actions and that the choices they make have consequences for which they will be held accountable.

Treat students with equal respect. A major source of conflict in many schools is the perceived or real problem of bias and unfair treatment because of ethnicity, gender, race, social class, religion, disability, nationality, physical appearance, or some other factor. Effective schools communicate that all children are valued and respected. There is an effort to establish a climate that demonstrates care and a sense of community.

Create ways for students to share their concerns. Peers often are the most likely group to know in advance about potential violence. Schools must create ways for students to safely report behaviors that may lead to dangerous situations. It is important for schools to support and foster positive relationships between students and adults so students will feel safe providing information about a potentially dangerous situation.

Help children feel safe expressing their feelings, needs, and anxieties. When they do not have access to caring adults, feelings of isolation, rejection, and disappointment are more likely to occur, increasing the probability of acting-out behaviors.

Have in place a system for referring children who are suspected of being abused or neglected. The referral system must be appropriate and reflect federal and state guidelines.

Offer extended programs. Before- and after-school programs can reduce violence. Effective programs are well supervised and provide a range of options, such as counseling, tutoring, mentoring, cultural arts, community service, clubs, access to computers, and help with homework.

Promote citizenship and character. In addition to their academic mission, schools must help students become good citizens and promote honesty, kindness, responsibility, and respect for others.

Identify problems and assess progress toward solutions. Schools must openly and objectively examine circumstances that are potentially dangerous and situations where members of the school community feel threatened or intimidated. Moreover, effective schools share this information with students, families, and the community at large.

Support students in making the transition to adult life and the workplace. Schools can provide students with community service opportunities, work-study programs, and apprenticeships that help connect them to the community.

Information taken from the web site for Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice (CECP) at www.air.org/cecp/.