School Safety
School Safety
Recent statistics indicate that on any given day, approximately 45 million students enter elementary and secondary school campuses. This number does not include the teachers, staff members, administrators, and other school officials who are also present on school campuses every day. On a daily basis, millions of children and adults cross onto campuses, under the presumption that schools are secure and safe places that are somehow off-limits to terror and violence occurring in the world at large. However, this presumption is not only false, but dangerous.
When it comes to schools, there is a general attitude that we know which schools are dangerous-those in the inner-city, ridden with gang violence. However, a look at some of the deadliest events occurring on school campuses reveals many of the most notorious examples of school violence occurred in rural or suburban areas.
Schools are increasingly overburdened and underfunded; parents are busier, and technology makes information about schools, communities, and politics readily available to anyone who wants to find it. In such an environment, School Safety is a shared responsibility among teachers, students, school officials, parents, law enforcement agencies and first responders. We have created this page to provide information and resources about school safety. If you would like to suggest additional resources, please contact us at cusa@uci.edu.
Are Schools as Safe as They Should Be?
In January of 2004, CUSA presented a community forum on School Safety. Keynote speakers at this event included Sheriff Michael S. Carona, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department and William M. Habermehl, Orange County Superintendent of Schools. This forum was sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and the UCI School of Social Ecology, and brought together school superintendents and principals, law enforcement officials, PTA presidents and Orange County business leaders to discuss school safety. This forum addressed many of the new challenges to school safety in a post Columbine, post September 11 era as well as provide information on several innovative programs and resources available to Orange County Schools.
School Safety Resources
- School Violence Prevention & School Safety Guide
- National School Safety Center
- U.S. Department of Justice: "Ensuring School Safety"
- American Red Cross Prepare Your School and Students
- Crisis Prevention and Response
- School Safety - National Crime Prevention Council
- Virginia Center for School Safety
- Safe Schools and Violence Prevention
- Assessment: Resources and Cautions