Physical Safety

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Physical safety refers to the protection of all stakeholders, including families, caregivers, students, school staff, and the community, from violence, theft, and exposure to weapons and threats, to establish a secure learning environment.

For students to learn, they need to feel safe.  It is essential that all students be able to attend schools that provide a safe environment where they can thrive and fully engage in their studies without the distraction and worry about physical safety concerns.

Featured Resources

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Outlines resources for addressing crises that occur in schools and school communities, and how to move forward in the aftermath of these crises.

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Presents a list of resources to support mental health during world crises. 

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Describes the problem of school violence and how behavioral threat assessment (BTA) became a widely implemented school violence prevention strategy, including considerations for the fit and appropriateness of using BTA in schools.

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Provides information and sample communications to promote SchoolSafety.gov during the back-to-school season.

youth risk behavior survey

Provides an overview of the most recent data on health behaviors and experiences among high school students in the United States. Some of the key trends presented on adolescent health and well being include: sexual behaviors, substance use, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, mental health, and school connectedness.

Blue Campaign

Provides information to support school resource officers to recognize signs of and report suspected human trafficking. In addition, offers strategies to ensure potential victims or impacted students get connected with appropriate providers and support. 

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Presents data and reports on the implementation of the Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA) across U.S. states and other jurisdictions with the goal of strengthening the quality of GFSA data submissions. Features the development of a formal quality review process, including developing a set of business rules to detect issues related to data completeness and accuracy. 

Graphic of students in front of a school.

Promotes healthy teen relationships including prevention strategies for individuals, peers, families, schools, and neighborhoods. Also, encourages ideas and experiences young teens need in order to have healthy relationships and prevent negative relationship behaviors early in life.

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American Institutes for Research

U.S. Department of Education

The contents of the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Web site were assembled under contracts from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools to the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Contract Number  91990021A0020.

This Web site is operated and maintained by AIR. The contents of this Web site do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education nor do they imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.

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