There are no quick fixes or easy solutions to respond to the tragedies that have occurred in schools across the country—but there are evidence-based ways to change school environments so that students and teachers feel safer.
School Climate and Safety
Health and learning are interdependent. From early childhood through higher education, educational settings have the potential to nurture young people’s health and well-being. The climate of these settings affects whether students feel and are safe, connected, supported, and challenged.
Adults can model and teach young people the knowledge and behaviors essential to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent illness and violence. Social–emotional learning activities can develop a range of competencies in communication, anger management, conflict resolution, empathy, and other life skills.
Through partnerships with families, communities, and social service agencies, educational settings can provide critical access to needed preventive and treatment services.
Related Topics
School Discipline
Social and Emotional Learning
Related Center
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
Many schools, colleges, and universities across the country face challenges in creating safe and supportive learning environments. Positive school climate and conditions for learning contribute to improved test scores, attendance, grade promotion, and graduation rates. NCSSLE is improving conditions for learning in schools so that all students have the opportunity to realize academic success.
