Elements of Effective School Violence Prevention Plans

Because school violence reflects the violence in our communities and neighborhoods, schools are most effective in confronting school violence when the community around them provides support. Many communities have been able to reduce school violence by developing comprehensive, integrated plans involving schools, social services, mental health providers, and law enforcement and juvenile justice authorities.

In order to assist schools in developing and carrying out violence prevention and response plans, the Departments of Education and Justice and the American Institutes for Research developed a report, Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide (2000). The report indicates that an effective school violence prevention plan must include three tiers:

Schools must build a school-wide foundation for all children. This involves: supporting positive discipline, academic success, and mental and emotional wellness through a caring school environment; teaching students appropriate behaviors and problem solving skills; positive behavioral support; and appropriate academic instruction with engaging curricula and effective teaching practices.

Schools must identify students at risk for severe academic or behavioral difficulties early on and create services and supports that address risk factors and build protective factors for them. It is important that staff be trained to recognize early warning signs and make appropriate referrals. Once students are identified, they must receive coordinated services that meet their individual needs. A number of approaches have been developed for interventions at this stage, including anger management training, structured after-school programs, mentoring, group and family counseling, changing instructional practices, and tutoring.

Schools must identify and provide intensive interventions for the few children who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral problems. To be effective, these approaches generally require the collaboration of schools, social services, mental health providers, and law enforcement and juvenile justice authorities.

To learn more, see:
Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates (2002) - U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Secret Service
Effective and Noteworthy School Violence Prevention Programs Database - Hamilton Fish Institute