National Crime PreventionCouncil

CAREGIVERS’ GUIDE TO SCHOOL

SAFETY ANDSECURITY

Presented by

National Crime Prevention Council1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Thirteenth FloorWashington, DC 20036-5325202-466-6272www.ncpc.org

and

The Allstate Foundation2775 Sanders Road, Suite F3Northbrook, IL 60062847-402-5000www.allstate.com

Copyright © 2002 National Crime Prevention Council

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of AmericaJanuary 2003

ISBN 1-929888-19-8

®

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Administrators, teach-ers, parents, students, policymakers, and communityleaders all want to keep schools safe and secure. Whenthese concerned, motivated partners team up to work onways to improve school safety and security, great resultscan be achieved.

Research and experience shows us that a school’sresponse to safety issues should be comprehensive andinclude a variety of options since the problems them-selves are complex and sometimes deeply rooted. Both aschool’s physical environment and its social climate needto be considered. A comprehensive school safety plan willcombine immediate solutions, long-term preventionplanning, and prevention programs with a good hardlook at the school facility, and may incorporate extrasecurity technology and staff training. An effective school

CAREGIVERS’ GUIDE TO SCHOOL

SAFETY ANDSECURITY

safety plan is based on accurate information oncrime and violence.

Successful, safe, and effective schools are thosewith high levels of parent and caregiver involve-ment. Primary caregivers are vital to children’s emo-tional well-being, academic progress, and safety.The more you involve yourself in your children’sschool life—by meeting their teachers, attendingschool functions such as parent-teacher conferences,PTA meetings, plays, concerts, sporting events, orvolunteering at the school—the more aware ofsafety and security issues and solutions you will be.

Schools need your help in devising solutions tosafety and security issues. Schools, parents, busi-ness leaders, social service agencies, law enforce-ment and juvenile justice agencies, communityorganizations, students, elected officials, and gov-ernment agencies play an important part in schoolsafety planning and success. Forming or strength-ening partnerships with them is an important partof working for change.

The National Crime Prevention Council(NCPC) has partnered with a number of com-panies and organizations to form the NationalSafety and Security Council and the “Be Safe andSound” campaign, whose goal is to develop areplicable safety and security model that can beused in schools as well as elsewhere in the commu-nity. This booklet is the first piece in this campaignand is intended to help you work toward makingyour child’s school safer and more secure.

As parents and/or primary caregivers, there arefour things you can do to improve school safety:

1. Listen to your children’s concerns—engagetheir problems and empower them to maketheir schools safer.

2. Educate yourself about school safety andsecurity, both physical and programmatic—find out what’s being done and what more canbe done.

3. Involve yourself—work with school staff, otherparents, and the community, including local

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businesses, to improve and strengthen schoolsafety and security.

4. Advocate for and effect change.

Listen to Your Children

Bullying, fist fights, and shoving are the most com-mon safety and security issues kids face at school,while theft is the most prevalent type of schoolcrime. Some problems, such as gang activity anddrugs, while not common in most schools, canrapidly accelerate the presence of fear, violence,drug abuse, and criminal behavior. Ask your childwhat problems and concerns he or she has. Here isa breakdown of problems that some students facein some schools everyday:

� Bullying is a serious problem that is partic-ularly common in middle schools. It can drivevictims to avoid school and cause low self-esteem, slowed academic progress, and depres-sion. Increasingly, victims of bullies are reactingviolently to their situation by becoming violenttoward their tormentors, other students, orharming themselves.

� Sexual harassment is unwelcome, uninvited,and unreciprocated behavior of a sexual naturethat interferes with a student’s life. It caninclude comments, advances, touching, ges-tures, taunting, and perpetrating rumors.Victims may be driven into low self-esteem,suffer academically, or avoid school altogether.Research shows that girls, youth of color, andgay youth are most likely to be targeted. Sexualharassment is illegal—it is a form of sex dis-crimination and is prohibited by a variety offederal and state laws.

� Theft accounts for the overwhelming majority ofschool crime—both from teachers as well as stu-dents. In 1999, thefts accounted for about 64 per-

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cent of all crime against students at school thatyear. [Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2001]On average, each year there are 217,400 theftsfrom teachers at school. [2000 Department ofEducation Annual Report on Safety]

� Guns and Other Weapons. A 1999 survey con-ducted by the Centers for Disease Controlfound that 4.9 percent of high school studentsreported having carried a gun at least once inthe last 30 days. While devices such as metaldetectors (where legal) are an option to keepguns out of school, one of the most effectivemethods of detecting weapons at school is tipsfrom other students.

� Gangs and Cliques. The presence of gang activ-ity or social cliques can have a huge negative

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Talking With Your Kids About Tough Issues

1. Start early—kids who have early conver-sations with their parents are more likelyto continue turning to them as teens.

2. Initiate conversations with your child.3. Listen to your child.4. Address any fears.5. Create an open environment, where

kids feel free to express themselves.6. Communicate your own values.7. Be honest.8. Be patient.9. Use everyday opportunities to talk..

10. Talk about it again. And, again.

From Talking with Kids About Tough Issues,

http://www.talkingwithkids.org/violence.html.

impact on a school. These play a significant rolein the widespread escalation of tensions andviolence in schools. This problem is not limitedto urban schools. Schools need to make it clearthat gang and clique behavior will not betolerated and apply consistent disciplinarymeasures.

Educate Yourself

Each school’s situation will be unique—even fromother schools in the same district. Effective solu-tions require that you have accurate, up-to-dateinformation specifically about problems in yourchild’s school and the community at large.

Every school has a “code of conduct” for stu-dents that details the school rules and punish-ments for breaking them. Request a copy fromyour child’s school and read it. Be supportive ofschool disciplinary actions that are in accordancewith the school’s “code of conduct”: it is vital forall that school discipline is properly and consis-tently enforced.

Find out what is already being done at yourchild’s school. If you’re like many parents andcaregivers, the very idea of “school safety” isoverwhelming and sometimes frightening. TheLivingston, NJ, School PTA developed the follow-ing list to help parents focus on what can be doneto improve school safety and security. (See addi-tional checklist at the back of this booklet.)

� Is school safety a priority for your school andyour community?

� Do parents have access to reports that includeinformation about the number of violentcrimes or other incidents that happen at school?

� Does your school have procedures for respond-ing quickly to unsafe situations? What are they?

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� Is your school addressing ways to prevent aswell as respond to crisis?

� Are the school board, school principal, superin-tendent, teachers, staff, parents, students, andcommunity involved in these efforts?

� Has someone been designated to coordinateactivities to maintain a safe and secureenvironment?

� Are counselors and psychologists available towork with students who are troubled ordisruptive?

� Do students in all grades participate in classesto help them develop conflict resolution andother life skills?

� Do school health service providers help or referstudents who come to them with concernsabout safety?

� Does the school emphasize promoting self-esteem and respect for others in all aspects ofthe school program?

� Are parents and students involved in activitiesof positive physical, social, and emotionalhealth?

� Are teachers encouraged to set examples of pos-itive physical, social, and emotional health?

� Does the school have fair, firm, consistent dis-cipline policies?

� Are school facilities attractive and hazard-free?

� Is safety addressed in all aspects of the schoolprogram—the cafeteria, physical education,classrooms, school athletic events, etc.?

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� Do school staff, parents, and community mem-bers collaborate on school safety issues?

Involve Yourself

Become a proactive parent, not a reactive one. Gettogether with other parents to address any prob-lems that your kids tell you exist. Discuss ways youcan team up to ensure your children’s safety:perhaps by patrolling the children’s walking routesto and from school to create a “safe corridor” orby partnering with local nonprofit organizationsor businesses to create a “safe haven”—a violence-,gun-, and drug-free recreation or social zone inthe community.

There are many simple ways for you to getinvolved. For example,

� get involved with your child’s school life—attend school functions, parent conferences,open houses, and PTA meetings—and networkwith other parents.

� work with your child’s school to encouragefamily involvement, welcome all families, andinvolve caregivers in meaningful ways withtheir children’s education.

� volunteer at the school—as a hallway or park-ing lot monitor, a teacher’s aide, a chaperone

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“Studies have shown that schools whereparents are involved in decision making andadvocacy have higher levels of studentachievement and greater public support.”

National PTA, National Standards

for Parent/Family Involvement

—“School Decision Making and Advocacy”

on field trips or at school events, or providingclerical assistance.

� work with the school to introduce preventionprograms such as a peer mediation program.

� participate in school- or community-basedgroups concerned with violence prevention—or form one.

� lead other concerned parents in participating in the school’s safety planning or advisorycommittee.

� form a team for special cleanup projects likerenovating old classrooms, repairing play-ground equipment, and removing graffiti.

� encourage your school to offer before- andafter-school programs—work with the com-munity and local businesses to achieve this.

Advocate for and Effect Change at School

How the School System Works

Now that you have determined what some of theissues are and have educated yourself about effec-tive prevention programs, you will need to enlistpartners and come up with a plan to address thesafety and security issues at your child’s school.As you go about the business of gathering infor-mation and becoming more involved in theschool’s activities, you will, of course, be buildingrelationships with the school staff. Learningabout and trying to improve safety and securityissues at school shouldn’t be confrontational.You are likely to meet with the greatest success inadvancing safe and secure schools if you workwith school personnel, not against them.Remember, they’re concerned about studentsafety, too! Enlist their help.

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It’s important that you understand how theschool system works so that schools are given thechance to deal with your concerns. Most problemscan be solved at the school level—after all, theprincipal and teachers are the people most familiarwith and concerned about the school’s environ-ment. If you have concerns, or if there has been anincident involving your child, it is important toknow the hierarchy that exists within the schoolsystem. Here are the steps you should take as youengage the school to work with you:

� First, approach your child’s teacher, or make anappointment to speak with the principal orassistant principal.

� If this is not successful, express your concernsto the PTA and see what action they can bringabout.

� If you are still not satisfied, contact the areasuperintendent’s office.

� Next, take your concerns to the superinten-dent’s office.

� As a last resort, contact a school board member.Nearly all problems can be resolved within theschool administrative hierarchy. Rarely, today,are school leaders likely to ignore reasonablesafety and security concerns.

Try to discuss problems with school personnelearly, before they develop into more serious issues,and always with an open mind. Remember, thereare two sides to any issue. Define your problemclearly, be informed about what the school isdoing, and work with the school to develop asolution. Familiarize yourself with the school’sprocedures for resolving parent concerns. Com-munication, cooperation, and collaboration arethe keys to effectively teaming with school officialsto bring about change.

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Advocating for Change

Having safe and secure schools is important to the community as a whole, not just to parents andstudents. Businesses are connected to local, electedpolicymakers and can help advocate for change inschools. Beyond generating news about your pro-gram, the news media in your community can beactive advocates for your program. Enlisting part-ners and advocating for change with elected offi-cials revolve around the same activities. Advocacyis simply educating policymakers (such as schoolboard members and state legislators) about yourefforts through letters, meetings, or hearings.

This means that your group needs to convincepolicymakers and partners that your efforts

� deal with a program of concern to a large seg-ment of the community.

� are effective.

� can get even better results with backing frombusinesses, media, and policymakers.

� will contribute to a valuable public image forthem.

Whether communicating about your group’sactivities or seeking full partnerships, you’ll needto do several things on a regular basis:

� Identify key staff members and partners whoare working in support of the cause.

� Write to your partners and policymakersdescribing the issue, explaining your currentimpact on the problem and how they can helpincrease that impact.

� Talk with them, by appointment, about yourprogram and your need for their support.

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� Make sure they have representatives on VIPguest lists for special events and meetings yourprogram hosts.

� Ask them to emcee one of your events.

� Remind them that while teenagers may be thecause of some crimes, they are also an enor-mous pool of untapped energy, talent, andenthusiasm.

� Don’t just communicate with them when youhave a problem, send them letters of supportwhen they have done something that is in sup-port of your goals.

� Organize other parents to communicate to thesame legislator so that you are not a lone voice.

� Ask candidates to make this issue part of theirplatform.

� Keep a log of the calls and correspondence youhave had with elected officials on this topic.

� Publicize when the legislation has done some-thing good on the issue.

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“Ultimately, your best protection is a positiveschool climate. Institute universal measuresthat reinforce positive behavior school-wide.Be active in reaching out to students whoappear alienated or lonely, and who maybe at higher risk of violent behavior.”

Tod Schneider,

“Assess Your School’s Safety Issues to Find

Lasting Solutions” in The Safety Zone,

Vol. 4, Issue 1, Spring 2002

A Primer on School Safety and Security

Research shows that school safety works best whenthere are school-wide policies and practices thatsystemically address the needs of students, schoolpersonnel, and the community, as well as thephysical plant of the school. Schools that haveimplemented comprehensive violence preventionand response plans experience improved studentperformance, fewer student suspensions, a schoolclimate more conducive to learning, better staffmorale, and are safer places. [“Creating SafeSchools: A Comprehensive Approach” in JuvenileJustice, OJJDP, Vol. VIII, No. 1, p. 13]

Three primary issues affect school safety andsecurity:

1. School “climate”—strategies for improving thesocial environment.

2. School layout and organization—the principlesof crime prevention through environmentaldesign.

3. Physical security—the need for locks, alarms,safety lighting, and more.

Improving the School Climate

Some schools are more at risk for safety and secu-rity issues than others. There are high rates of vic-timization, violence, and bullying, and an inabilityto monitor and discipline children. A climate offear means that teachers are forced to silently shiftthe focus of classes from learning to safety and con-trolling students. Students can’t learn well in anunsafe school. School-based risk factors (Trendsand Issues: School Safety and Violence Prevention,Univ. of Oregon, College of Education) include

� poor design and use of school space,

� overcrowding,

� lack of caring but firm disciplinary procedures,

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� insensitivity and poor accommodation tomulticultural factors,

� student alienation,

� rejection of at-risk students by teachers andpeers,

� anger and resentment at school routines anddemands for conformity.

Safe schools are characterized by a positiveschool atmosphere; have high levels of student,staff, and parent participation; have students whoare attached to their school; and have clear andhigh expectations for student performance andbehavior. Students have self-respect, mutualrespect for each other, and appreciate diversity.Safe schools have proactive, inclusive leadership—a principal and school board that respond effec-tively and promptly to concerns and welcomeinput from parents. All members of the schoolcommunity are involved in planning, creating, andsustaining a school culture of safety and respect.Each student has a trusting relationship with atleast one adult at school, part of a general school-wide program of “connectedness.”

The school your child attends is probablysomewhere in between these two extremes. As youwork with other parents and the school staff toensure a safer school environment, consider asyour goals the following fundamental qualities of asafe and responsible school, as identified by theU.S. Department of Education:

� The school has strong leadership, caring faculty,family and community involvement thatincludes law enforcement officials and repre-sentatives of community-based organizations,and student participation in the design of pro-grams and policies.

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� The physical environment of the school is safe,and school-wide policies are in place to pro-mote and support responsible behaviors.

� Prevention and intervention programs are sus-tained, coordinated, and comprehensive.

� Interventions are based on careful assessmentof student needs.

� Evidence-based approaches are used.

� Staff are provided with training and support tohelp them implement programs and approaches.

All schools should have some type of violence/crime prevention programming as part of the cur-riculum. For instance, students should be taughtconflict resolution and anger management—how tosettle disputes without violence. Even at the ele-mentary level, prevention programs can also teachimpulse control, appreciation of diversity, and medi-ation skills. Older students will benefit from theaddition of life-skills training in problem-solving,social skills, building self-esteem, assertiveness,moral reasoning, coping skills, stress management,and dealing with crises and transitions. The federalgovernment and most states make funds availablefor prevention activities—such as anti-gang pro-grams and other focused prevention education, aswell as more general recreational activities—underanti-crime and education legislation.

It is imperative that students themselves beactively involved in any program to improve schoolclimate. The NCPC-ADT 2001 Are We Safe?—Focus On Teens survey reports that teens believethey can be effective in stopping violence. One-third say that they can act directly to stop or avoidviolence by not fighting, by stopping others frombecoming violent, or by speaking out against vio-lence. A third say that demonstrating respect forothers is a means of preventing violence. One infour cite being a positive role model for other teens.Young people want to be part of the solution.

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The National Crime Prevention Council hasdeveloped a highly successful curriculum formiddle school and high school student that yourschool might consider adopting as its preventionprogram. Teens, Crime, and the Community(TCC) was created in 1985, as a joint initiative ofStreet Law, Inc., not only to reduce alarminglyhigh rates of teen victimization but also to engageyoung people in their communities. The programteaches youth ways to protect themselves fromcrime and provides them opportunities to developsafer, more vital communities.

Another NCPC program that works to improveschool safety and involves students in the planningand decision making is Youth Safety Corps. Thisprogram was developed in collaboration with theU.S. Department of Education and the CrimePrevention Coalition of America to improve edu-cation through safer schools. Through the devel-opment of youth/adult partnerships, Youth SafetyCorps members learn specific leadership, commu-nication, personal development, and project man-agement skills as they undertake projects to bringabout positive change in their schools.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

You should advocate that your school admin-istrators apply Crime Prevention Through En-vironmental Design (CPTED) principles to theschool campus. CPTED facilitates and enhancesschool safety and security. Preventing crime andviolence can extend further than student behav-ioral change to taking a good hard look at thephysical nature of a school. NCPC offers trainingand technical assistance for CPTED that might beof interest to your school.

The principles of CPTED center on three areas:controlling access, improving natural surveillance,and increasing definition of school boundaries.These principles can easily and effectively beapplied to schools. For example,

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� controlling unauthorized access to buildingsand grounds can include

� having a single access point or entrance forvisitors.

� screening visitors and requiring them towear ID tags.

� monitoring entry to the school from a singlepoint.

� reducing the number of secondary entriesaround the perimeter and to buildings.

� improving natural surveillance of the schoolbuildings and grounds can include

� ensuring clear lines of sight by removingunnecessary obstacles, and trimmingvegetation.

� limiting hiding places, e.g. raising signs offthe ground, lowering bushes.

� improving lighting, limiting shadow, orinstalling convex mirrors in dark or secludedareas.

� enhancing school boundaries for better controlcan include

� clearly defining the edges of school propertywith tree plantings or fences to enforce thatthe school is not a general public-accessspace.

� individualizing areas of the school (e.g., artsdepartment, science department) to pro-mote boundaries or “ownership” and pridein the school as well as to aid identificationof unauthorized individuals.

� keeping up good maintenance—a clean, wellcared-for school fosters school pride andorderliness.

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Physical Security: Locks, Alarms, and More

Prevention and life skills intervention programsand CPTED improvements are not enough toensure a safe environment. Security—the rein-forcement of the school facility using hardwarecomponents with the proper proceduralelements—reduces the risk of crime and schoolviolence by allowing the administration to controland monitor access to any area of the facility.Other practical guidelines reduce situations orenvironments that may encourage criminal orvandalous acts.

In facilities where there is a history of crime,physical security enhancements help to “targetharden.” Target hardening might include suchthings as installing video cameras, metal detectors,or alarm systems or hiring security personnel tosend the message that it will be harder to perpe-trate a crime or violence at the school. Securitytechnologies can increase detection and delay orslow a perpetrator’s progress, but establishing andenforcing consequences must accompany them ifcrime and violence are to be reduced. Employingsecurity guards or stationing law enforcement per-sonnel at the school are also options.

A recent research report from the NationalInstitute of Justice entitled The Appropriate andEffective Use of Security Technologies in U.S.Schools: A Guide For Schools and Law EnforcementAgencies provides non-technical, non-vendor spe-cific information on

� security products available,

� strengths, weaknesses, and expected effective-ness of these products in schools,

� costs of products—installation, operation,maintenance, manpower, and trainingexpenses,

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� requirements to specify in order to get a suit-able product, and

� related legal issues.

The report covers video surveillance (cameras,video recording equipment), metal detectors(walk-through, hand-held scanners, x-ray baggagescanners), entry control technologies, and duressalarm devices.

Enhancing School Security—Basic StepsCan Be Very Effective

� Be sure the school has a visitor’s policy. Test itby walking in the building and verifying thatyou’re are asked to sign in or show properidentification

� Unmonitored doors should stay locked fromthe outside at all times to prevent unauthorizedpersons or items from entering the buildingunnoticed.

� Students entering and exiting the school prop-erty should be monitored.

Check the Locks and Doors—The FirstLine of Defense

Good locks are the first line of defense. Volunteerto lead a team to ensure the physical security ofyour school.

� Check for high security locks or electronicaccess control units on all doors. Remember tocheck closets that have private information orhazardous materials, outside doors, andbasements.

� Verify that any electronic access control unit inuse has secure key bypass using patented con-trol of duplication of keys. Any access control

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unit is only as good as its mechanical overridedevices.

� Make sure all doors are solid. Look for sheetsteel on both sides of back and basement doors.

� Make sure doorframes and hinges are in goodcondition and strong enough that they cannotbe pried open.

� Be certain all windows are secure.

� Verify that upon change of staff or administra-tion, locks are changed or cylinders are rekeyed.

� Don’t assume someone else has reported adoor, window, or lock that is broken or notworking properly. Report these problemsimmediately.

Check the Lights

Your school should be protected with properlighting.

� Verify the use of motion sensitive, as well asconstant, outside lights.

� Illuminate dark places around the building—add lighting, cut back shrubs so light can pene-trate, etc.

Check the Common Trouble Spots

� Front office/reception area—The receptionistshould be equipped with a panic button foremergencies, a camera with a monitor atanother location, and a high security lock onthe front door that can be controlled.

� Stairwells and out-of-the-way corridors—Talkto the school administration about improvingpoorly lighted corridors and stairways since

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these conditions often provide environmentsfor violence to take place.

� Restrooms—Make sure restrooms are not ahaven for illegal or improper activities. Be surethat deadlocks are not accessible from theinside of the restroom.

Keep Sensitive Information Confidential

� Are identification badges, office keys, and codesprotected in the same way credit cards would beprotected? Is there a process in place for report-ing missing or lost badges?

� Does the school have a formal documentdestruction policy that defines when documentsshould be destroyed and how? Be wary of offsitedestruction services for the most sensitivedocuments.

Conclusion

It’s going to take the involvement of parents andcaregivers to get the community to pay attentionto the safety and security of children. Caregiverscan give children a voice by speaking out for theirneeds. As the community begins to listen andchange begins to take place, recognize and cele-brate those who have helped make it possible—volunteers, other parents, partners, schooladministrators, and elected officials. After all,success means we’re all one step closer to beingsafe and sound.

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Caregivers’ ChecklistNote: Not all of these questions may pertain to your child’s school.

As you walk into your child’s school, take a look around…

Are shrubs/plants below windows? Could anintruder hide behind them?

Are there any broken panes in the windows?The “broken window” theory refers to thephenomenon that if one window in a build-ing is broken and left unrepaired, the restsoon suffer the same fate. The first brokenwindow signals the fact that no one caresabout the building and so breaking morewindows won’t matter and the window-breakers won’t suffer any consequences.

Are any of the windows open? An openwindow provides easy access for an intruder.When a room is empty, the windows anddoors should be locked. (An obvious excep-tion is during warm months in a schoolwithout air conditioning).

Is the entrance door to the school locked?Locking the door limits access to unwantedintruders. If the door isn’t locked, was theresomeone manning the door?

Are any other doors propped open orunlocked? When a room is empty, thewindows and doors should be locked.

Is there only one clearly marked anddesignated entrance for visitors? Having only one entrance makes it easier tomonitor access to the building.

Did someone greet you at the door? If so,who greeted you? And, how were yougreeted? The greeting is your first indicationof the culture of the school—is it warm andinviting?

Is the visitor’s policy visible? Are there signs atall entry points listing regulations and trespasslaws? Visitors need direction and trespassersneed to know the consequences of theiractions.

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� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

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Are all students, staff, substitutes, and visitorsidentified through passes, badges, otherforms of identification, or uniforms? Some sortof identification is necessary to let everyoneknow who belongs and who doesn’t.

Do you see school staff in the hallways? Adult visibility is the number one contributorto school safety.

Are the entranceway and hallways welllighted? A well-lighted area provides a senseof safety and security in student/adult trafficareas because acts of vandalism andviolence are less likely to occur in a well-lighted area.

Is the school clean? An obvious sign ofdisrepair is an indicator of deeper underlyingproblems.

Are the school buildings in good condition?Once again, it may be an indicator ofdeeper problems.

Do you see any signs of graffiti? Signs ofgraffiti may indicate a gang presence withinthe school.

Is the school environment welcoming andstudent friendly? How can you tell? Look forsuch things as student work displayed inpublic places, display cases decorated andredecorated throughout the school year.

At this point you might have questions about how toprocess/use this information: how many yeses or nosindicate a problem? Unfortunately, resolving schoolsafety and security issues is not as easy as tallying upX number of yeses or X number of nos. This checklist waswritten with the intent of helping you identify potentialproblem areas at your child’s school. It is to be utilizedwith the guide to help you enter a dialogue with yourschool administrators about the issue of school safetyand security.

Comments: ________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

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� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

� Yes� No

Action Planning Checklist for Parents

The following is a list of more in-depth questions to askyour school administrator to help you gauge the safetyand security of your child’s school.

Faculty/Staff Procedures

� Does the school conduct open discussions withparents about safety and security issues?

� Are teachers encouraged to set examples of posi-tive physical, social, and emotional health?

� Does the school have fair, firm, consistent disci-pline policies?

� Is all staff trained in school policy guidelines andprocedures?

� Do parents have access to reports that includeinformation about the number of violent or otherunsafe incidents at the school?

� Are classes and hallways overcrowded?

Prevention

Does my child’s school…

� have appropriate research-based preventionprograms and strategies in place to promotestudent safety, e.g., anger control, conflict resolu-tion, peer mediation, mentoring programs, andcharacter education?

� create a school climate that encourages toleranceand celebrates diversity?

� have drug, alcohol, and tobacco awarenessprograms?

� have weapons awareness and violenceprevention programs?

� have a policy on Internet safety?

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Intervention

Does my child’s school…

� have counselors and psychologists available towork with students who are troubled or disruptive?

� provide programs available for students who areacademically at risk?

� have a referral process for students with behavioraland/or emotional issues?

� offer confidential help available for students whoneed it?

� produce a resource guide for parents and studentslisting such community resources as a youthservices bureau, local hospitals, and health clinics?

Preparedness

Does my child’s school…

� have any emergency procedures in place?

� involve the school board, school principal, schoolsuperintendent, teachers, school staff, parents,students, and community professionals all involvedin emergency preparation efforts?

� have a crisis response team in place?

� conduct crisis response simulations to test theeffectiveness of its emergency procedures?

Comments: ________________________________________

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For more information about this campaign and for a detailedlist of resources for more information on school safety andsecurity issues, check out NCPC’s Web site at www.ncpc.org.

NSSC PartnersNational Crime Prevention Council

www.ncpc.orgThe National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is aprivate, nonprofit tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] organizationwhose primary mission is to enable people to createsafer and more caring communities by addressing the

causes of crime and violence and reducing the opportunities for crimeto occur. NCPC publishes books, kits of camera-ready program mate-rials, posters, and informational and policy reports on a variety ofcrime prevention and community-building subjects. NCPC offerstraining, technical assistance, and a national focus for crime preven-tion: it acts as secretariat for the Crime Prevention Coalition ofAmerica, more than 4,000 national, federal, local, and state organiza-tions committed to preventing crime. It hosts a number of Web sitesthat offer prevention tips to individuals, describe prevention practicesfor community building,and help anchor prevention policy into laws and budgets. It also oper-ates demonstration programs in schools, neighborhoods, and entirejurisdictions and takes a major leadership role in youth crime preven-tion and youth service. NCPC has information on effective school-based prevention programs; it also administers the Center for Faith and Service. NCPC manages the McGruff “Take A Bite Out Of Crime”public service advertising campaign. NCPC is funded through a vari-ety of government agencies, corporate and private foundations, anddonations from private individuals.

The Allstate Foundation www.allstate.com/foundationThe Allstate Foundation is an independent, chari-table organization made possible by funding fromthe Allstate Corporation. The foundation funds

programs in three focus areas: safe and vital communities; tolerance,inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. In 2001, the foun-dation contributed $7.1 million to communities across America.

ASSA ABLOY Group www.assaabloy.comASSA ABLOY is the world’s leading manufacturer

and supplier of locks and is dedicated to understanding its customers’current and future security and safety needs. Based in Sweden, theASSA ABLOY Group comprises 100 companies in 40 countries andholds market-leading positions in Europe, Scandinavia, Australia,Canada, and Mexico and is the second largest player in the U.S. market.

Education Networks of America http://www.ena.com/default.htmENA is a leading managed seervice provider delivering acontent integration and delivery platform to help organi-

zations that struggle with diverse, distributed, and disparate environ-ments leverage their existing network investments to rapidly deploy,deliver, and manage critical information in real time. ENA builds andsupports unique technology solutions for state governments, K–12school systems, and system integrators across statewide and localnetworks. Its solutions increase access to online information, facilitatecollaboration, increase productivity, and lower the costs of informationmanagement.

Security Industry Association www.siaonline.orgFormed in 1969, SIA provides its members with a full-service,international trade association promoting the growth, expan-sion, and professionalism of the security industry throughproviding education, research, technical standards, repre-sentation, and defense of members’ interests. SIA has over

300 member companies, including manufacturers, distributors, serviceproviders, and others.

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