Developing a Nationwide School Safety Score for K-12 Schools in the U.S.

By Robert Jordan

Developing a Nationwide School Safety Score for K-12 Schools in the U.S. Recent incidents of violence and increasing awareness of various threats to student well-being have highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to school safety¹. This article explores the development of a nationwide school safety score for K-12 schools in the U.S., examining existing research and data to create a comprehensive and informative resource for stakeholders. It is essential to recognize that school safety is not solely about physical security; it requires a holistic approach that integrates physical measures, mental health support, and a positive school climate to foster a safe and supportive learning environment for all students²³⁴.

SafetyNet|REPORT℠: Setting the Standard in School Safety Scoring

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Potential Benefits and Challenges of a Nationwide School Safety Rating System

Before developing a new school safety score, it’s crucial to understand the potential benefits and challenges of implementing such a system.

Potential Benefits:

• Increased Awareness: A nationwide rating system can raise awareness about school safety issues and encourage schools to prioritize safety measures.
• Improved Accountability: By assigning a safety score, schools become accountable for their safety performance and are incentivized to improve.
• Resource Allocation: The safety score can help identify schools that need additional resources and support to improve safety.
• Informed Decision-Making: Parents and educators can use the safety score to make informed decisions about school choice and safety practices.
• Data-Driven Improvement: The data collected for the safety score can be used to identify trends and areas for improvement in school safety policies and practices. For example, analyzing data on the types and frequency of safety incidents can help schools develop targeted interventions and allocate resources effectively⁵⁶.

Potential Challenges:

• Data Collection and Standardization: Gathering accurate and consistent data from diverse schools nationwide can be challenging.
• Weighting and Measurement: Determining the appropriate weights for different factors in the safety score can be complex and potentially controversial.
• Subjectivity and Bias: The safety score may be influenced by subjective perceptions and potential data collection and analysis biases.
• Stigmatization and Negative Consequences: Schools with low safety scores may face stigmatization and negative consequences, such as decreased enrollment or funding.
• Cost and Implementation: Implementing a nationwide rating system can be costly and require significant resources and coordination.

Existing School Safety Rating Systems and Methodologies

Several organizations and agencies have developed tools and resources to assess and improve school safety. The federal government created SchoolSafety.gov to provide schools and districts with actionable recommendations for creating safe learning environments³. SchoolSafety.gov also offers a School Safety Readiness Tool that assists schools in evaluating their safety posture across ten elements. It also provides a tailored Action Plan with options for consideration, aligned resources, and grant opportunities specific to their individual school’s needs⁷. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers the School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT), which helps schools evaluate their security measures and identify areas for improvement⁸. The SSAT focuses on physical security aspects, such as perimeter security, access control, and security personnel⁸. It’s important to note that CISA does not collect or store any information from users of the SSAT⁸. CISA also offers the K-12 Anonymized Threat Response Guidance, which provides best practices for K-12 schools and law enforcement partners to understand and implement scalable response solutions to anonymous threats of violence⁹.

SafetyNet|REPORT℠: Redefining Proactive School Safety Scores

Offered exclusively by SITE|SAFETYNET℠, SafetyNet|REPORT℠ revolutionizes school safety assessments with its proprietary evaluation of 94 distinct safety zones. Featuring the Dynamic Safety Score (DSS), our system delivers an overarching safety score and detailed individual zone scores. These insights provide schools with actionable data to address vulnerabilities, enhance safety protocols, and build a secure environment for students and staff. By leveraging real-time reporting, SafetyNet|REPORT℠ empowers educational institutions to stay ahead of potential risks and achieve new standards in proactive safety management.

The Education Commission of the States provides a 50-State Comparison of School Accountability Systems, which includes information on various school safety¹⁰. This resource offers insights into how states approach school accountability, including safety-related factors. CISA emphasizes the unique needs and challenges of each school, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be effective⁹. CISA offers various resources and programs to help schools develop tailored safety plans, including guidance on threat assessment, bombing prevention, and bystander reporting⁹.

In addition to government resources, several software solutions are available to enhance school safety. These include Pikmykid, a platform that combines dismissal management, safety and emergency tools, and parent messaging; Visitu, a comprehensive platform for visitor management, student tracking, and emergency management; and InformaCast, a software solution for reliable and fast emergency notifications¹¹. These tools offer various features to improve school communication, monitoring, and emergency response.

Data Sources for School Safety Incidents

Developing a comprehensive school safety score requires access to reliable and up-to-date data on school safety incidents. Various government agencies, non-profit organizations, and media reports provide valuable data on school safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers several relevant data sources, including the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)¹². These sources provide information on various risk factors and behaviors that can contribute to school safety incidents.

SchoolSafety.gov offers a comprehensive database of school safety resources categorized by topic, audience, and agency¹³. This database includes information on various aspects of school safety, such as bullying, cyberbullying, emergency planning, mental health, and targeted violence¹³. Furthermore, SchoolSafety.gov provides a State Search Tool that enables schools to locate and access state-specific school safety resources, programs, contacts, and opportunities⁷. The University of Virginia’s Youth Violence Project provides a list of databases measuring school violence, including the Averted School Violence Database, the Civil Rights Data Collection, and the FBI Active Shooter Reports¹⁴. These databases offer valuable information on different types of school violence incidents and their contributing factors.

Volt.ai provides statistics on school safety and security, including data on school shootings, fighting and bullying, and the use of security systems¹. This data highlights the prevalence of different safety incidents and the measures schools take to address them. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) conducts the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS), which collects data on school safety practices, including the use of security measures, emergency procedures, and the presence of security staff¹⁵. This survey provides valuable insights into the current state of school safety in U.S. public schools.

Factors Contributing to School Safety

Creating a safe school environment requires a multifaceted approach that considers various factors beyond physical security. A positive school climate is essential, encompassing aspects such as respectful relationships between students, teachers, and administration; opportunities for student engagement; and an emphasis on equality and inclusion². Research has shown a correlation between a positive school climate and reduced negative behaviors, such as skipping school or getting into fights². Conversely, an adverse school climate can increase bullying and student misconduct².

Collecting school climate data through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other methods can inform school improvements and help formulate short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals that target specific issues². Bullying, both physical and cyber, is a significant concern that can negatively impact school climate and student well-being³. Cyberbullying can manifest in various forms, including name-calling, spreading false rumors, receiving or having explicit images shared without consent, stalking, and physical threats¹⁶.

Proactive measures are crucial for preventing safety incidents before they occur. These include implementing threat assessment programs, encouraging bystander reporting, and providing mental health support to students⁹¹⁶. CISA’s K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit provides strategies for K-12 institutions to implement and enhance safety reporting programs and encourage bystander reporting among students and school community members⁹. Promoting a positive school climate and implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) can help students develop emotional intelligence and improve their self-management and relationship skills, contributing to a safer learning environment¹⁶.

Schools should also have clearly defined policies and procedures to address safety concerns. Implementing a clearly defined school violence policy and providing resources to educate students and staff about physical and digital safety is crucial for creating a safe learning environment¹⁶. CISA also provides Bombing Prevention Assistance for K-12 Schools, offering products, tools, and Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) strategies to protect, prevent, mitigate, and respond to bombing threats⁹.

Weighing Different Factors to Create a Comprehensive Safety Score

Developing a school safety score requires carefully considering how to weigh different factors to create a comprehensive and meaningful measure. The World Bank emphasizes the importance of measuring various characteristics of school safety, including physical safety, mental health and well-being, instructional practices, interactions and relationships, and school connectedness⁵. They suggest collecting data from various sources, including school-based assessments, administrative records, and international assessments⁵.

It’s essential to consider the time it takes to notify emergency personnel and receive a response during emergencies. Research has shown significant gaps in these times, highlighting the need for rapid response systems¹⁷. Student health and well-being, including factors such as nutrition and physical activity, can also be considered in the safety score. BMI surveillance can provide valuable data in this area¹⁸. The National Education Policy Center (NEPC) highlights the limitations of summative rating systems, which often obscure the complex interplay of factors that contribute to school performance¹⁹. They suggest considering factors such as school composition, teacher characteristics, and instructional support when evaluating school safety. The U.S. Department of Education emphasizes the importance of context in developing a school safety score, recognizing that different schools have different needs and priorities⁶. They suggest including student surveys, school safety, and incident data in the score.

CENTEGIX highlights the impact of school safety on student achievement, educator retention, and emergency preparedness¹⁷. They emphasize the importance of providing educators with the tools and support they need to feel safe and confident in their work environment. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides insights into the importance of accurate and reliable data collection in assessing school safety¹⁸. They highlight the need for appropriate expertise and training for staff members involved in data collection.

Presenting the Safety Score

Presenting the school safety score clearly and understandably is crucial for its effectiveness. The World Bank emphasizes the importance of stakeholder buy-in to ensure the collection of reliable data and the effective use of the safety score⁵. They suggest using various data sources and measurement instruments to capture a comprehensive picture of school safety. The U.S. Department of Education indicates that the safety score should be actionable, comparable across schools and time, and presented clearly and understandably for the public⁶. They also suggest different ways to calculate and show the score, such as weighting and cut points.

Education Week highlights the importance of considering educators’ views on school safety when presenting the score²⁰. Their survey of educators found that a significant percentage feel less safe at school compared to pre-pandemic levels. The survey also revealed specific concerns among educators, with some suggesting measures such as allowing teachers to carry firearms or increasing police presence to enhance safety²⁰. This highlights the need to address educators’ concerns and provide them with the support they need to feel safe in their work environment. SchoolSafety.gov offers various tools and resources to communicate information on school safety, including infographics, webinars, and a communications center with presentations and materials⁷. These resources can be valuable in presenting the safety score to different audiences.

Conclusion

Developing a nationwide school safety score for K-12 schools in the U.S. is a complex undertaking that requires careful consideration of various factors. By drawing on existing research, data sources, and best practices, it is possible to create a comprehensive and meaningful safety score that can benefit students, educators, and communities. This endeavor necessitates a holistic approach that considers the interplay of physical security, mental health support, a positive school climate, and proactive measures to prevent incidents.

The safety score should be data-driven, drawing on reliable and standardized information from various sources. It should be presented clearly and understandably, considering the perspectives of different stakeholders, including educators, parents, and students. While the potential benefits of a nationwide safety score are significant, it is crucial to address the possible challenges, such as data collection, weighting, and potential biases.

Further research is needed to refine the methodology for calculating the safety score, determine the appropriate weightings for different factors, and develop effective strategies for addressing the challenges. By carefully considering these aspects and engaging in ongoing evaluation and improvement, a nationwide school safety score can become a valuable tool for promoting safe and supportive learning environments for all students in the U.S.

Works Cited

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