A safe school plan is a framework for action that can
be used as a guide for current and future planning.
It addresses both the behavioral and property protection
aspects of violence prevention. The goal of safe school
planning is to create and maintain a positive and welcoming
school climate, free of drugs, violence, intimidation,
and fear—an environment in which teachers can
teach and students can learn. Establishing a safe school
plan is a long-term, systematic, and comprehensive process.
As with most successful violence prevention interventions,
the best safe school plan involves the entire community.
1. Convene a Safe School Planning
Team
The planning team is the driving force behind the
planning process and should consist of a variety of
representatives from all aspects of the community
including students (if age appropriate), parents,
teachers, administrators, Board of Education members,
government representatives, business representatives,
religious leaders, law enforcement officials, etc.
2. Conduct a School Site Assessment
An annual school site assessment should be conducted
and used as an evaluation and planning tool to determine
the extent of any school safety problems and/or school
climate issues.
3. Develop Strategies and Implement
Violence Prevention Programs to Address School Safety
Concerns
In an effort to meet the needs identified in the
annual school site assessment, some strategies to
consider are:
Establish a clear Code of Behavior that includes
the rights and responsibilities of both adults and
students within the school community.
Include all youth in positive, rewarding activities
and relationships at school.
Review federal, state, and local statutes pertaining
to student management and school order with the school
district lawyer as well as review relevant school
and district policies.
- Control campus access and establish uniform visitor
screening procedures.
- Keep an accurate and detailed record of all school
crime incidents.
- Promote an ongoing relationship with local law
enforcement authorities, local businesses, and other
community organizations.
- Provide a school or district hotline that can
be accessed anonymously to report a threat or pending
violent incident.
- Establish guidelines and procedures for identifying
students at risk of violence toward themselves or
others. See The U.S. Department of Education’s
Early Warning Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools.
- Identify effective violence prevention programs
that meet the needs of the school community, including
both in-school programs and community programs appropriate
for referring students and families. Examples include
the following Blueprints for Violence Prevention
Model and Promising programs:
- Bullying Prevention Program
- Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies
- Life Skills Training
- Midwestern Prevention Program
- Quantum Opportunities
- School Transitional Environmental Program
- Project Status
- Positive Action Through Holistic Education
- Preventive Intervention
- Iowa Strengthening Families Program
- Perry Preschool Program
- Baltimore Mastery Learning & Good Behavior
Game
- Seattle Social Development Project
4. Establish a Social Support Team
The purpose of this team is to help improve the social
climate of the school. Members, including teachers,
parents, students, counselors, mental health workers,
and law enforcement provide information necessary
to identify which students are at risk and the most
appropriate support for that student.
5. Develop a Crisis Response Plan
In the event of a natural disaster or emergency at
school, a crisis response plan outlines specific procedures
for teachers and staff during various emergencies,
including responding to a violent incident. Having
a plan in place can save time and energy and can maintain
commitment when unforeseen problems arise.
This is only a blueprint for a safe school plan.
No two safe school plans are exactly the same. Each
school community must identify its own needs and the
strategies necessary to meet those needs. A safe school
plan is not static; it is an ongoing process, created
by multiple components. Whether the violence in your
district is presently alarming or not, now is the
time to institute a school/community-developed and
implemented safe school plan to ensure a peaceful
environment for children to grown and learn. Remember
that the key to a safe school is creating a welcoming,
friendly, supportive environment with clear guidelines
for appropriate behavior that are enforced fairly
and consistently.
