Creating Safe Schools: Examining Student Perceptions of Their Physical Safety at School. Insights in Education and Work

ACT, Inc. 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168. Tel: 319-337-1270; Web site: http://www.act.org

N

13

School Safety; Student Attitudes; Educational Environment; Academic Achievement; Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12; High School Students; School Health Services; Mental Health; Student Diversity; Student Behavior; Weapons; Aggression; Interpersonal Relationship; Juvenile Gangs; Standards; Racial Differences; Ethnicity; Gender Differences; School Size; Geographic Location; Family Income; Security Personnel

Safety is essential to student well-being and success. Because of this, a large percentage of parents and children are concerned about school safety. To get a better understanding of school safety from a student's perspective, ACT-tested students were surveyed and asked about their school's climate and the types of safety measures their school currently has. Given the nationwide focus on and concern about school safety, along with the correlation between school safety and student performance, ACT surveyed a sample of 10th- through 12th-grade students participating in the October 2018 national administration of the ACT® test. Approximately 16,000 students completed the optional survey that was sent to them following the completion of the ACT. The students in the survey rated their schools as generally safe but had diverse opinions and suggestions about how to improve school safety. Overall, student responses highlighted a need for more mental health services. Moreover, the responses indicated that students' feedback should be taken into account when developing school safety policies.

ERIC

2020

ED602027