Safe Schools, Thriving Students

Abstract

A rise in the number of school shootings over time has driven increasing attention to school safety. However, school shootings are not the only physical safety threat students may encounter at school. Other types of violence include sexual assault, robbery, physical attack or fights, and threats of physical attack (with or without a weapon). In addition to immediate physical harms, school violence can have long-lasting effects that undermine students’ engagement and mental health. It can also increase drug use and risk of suicide. Although there is widespread agreement that all children and youth deserve a safe and healthy school environment, there is significant debate about how best to promote student safety. This report summarizes what is known about the prevalence and effectiveness of strategies to improve student safety in schools. While strategies intended to increase physical security have shown limited or no success, strategies to build supportive school communities have shown greater success.

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