Kentucky Center for School Safety. The Assessment Process Enhancing Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Kentucky Center for School Safety


The Assessment The Assessment ProcessProcess

Enhancing

Safe and Healthy

Learning Environments


History of Kentucky’s Safety History of Kentucky’s Safety Assessment ProcessAssessment Process

• How did this How did this effort begin?effort begin?

• Who is Involved Who is Involved in this effort in this effort (and why)?(and why)?


The Assessment The Assessment (not audit)(not audit) – What is – What is it?it?

• Independent examination Independent examination of:of:– School climateSchool climate– School cultureSchool culture– Physical plantPhysical plant

• The assessment is strictly The assessment is strictly voluntaryvoluntary

• The assessment is The assessment is advisory – not supervisoryadvisory – not supervisory


What does the process What does the process involve?involve?

1.1. A written request from A written request from the Superintendentthe Superintendent

2.2. Confirmation letter Confirmation letter and surveys sent to and surveys sent to school and district school and district staffstaff

3.3. Principal contact Principal contact (nurture the (nurture the relationship)relationship)


What does the process involve?What does the process involve?

4.4. Resource materials are sent to Resource materials are sent to KCSS for review/analysis:KCSS for review/analysis:

a.a. Surveys of staff, students and parentsSurveys of staff, students and parents

b.b. Review of Safe Schools Data ReportReview of Safe Schools Data Report

c.c. Review of District/School Code of Review of District/School Code of Conduct (Handbook) & School RulesConduct (Handbook) & School Rules

d.d. Review of District/School Emergency Review of District/School Emergency & Crisis Response protocols& Crisis Response protocols


What does the process What does the process involve?involve?

e.e. Review Discipline and Safety Related Board Review Discipline and Safety Related Board PoliciesPolicies

f.f. Review of Student Supervision Schedules & Review of Student Supervision Schedules & AssignmentsAssignments

g.g. Review of Community Risk Factor Data Review of Community Risk Factor Data

h.h. Review of Workers Comp and Insurance Review of Workers Comp and Insurance ClaimsClaims


The Day of the Site VisitThe Day of the Site Visit

5.5. Arrive early – stay the entire Arrive early – stay the entire school dayschool day

– Observe traffic patterns and bus Observe traffic patterns and bus drop-offdrop-off

– Observe supervision patterns as Observe supervision patterns as students arrive and are students arrive and are dismisseddismissed

– Conduct interviews (130 Conduct interviews (130 individuals)individuals)

– Observe lunch – Experience Observe lunch – Experience lunchlunch

– Physical plant walk-throughPhysical plant walk-through


What is the process?What is the process?

• Draft the preliminary report (on-site):Draft the preliminary report (on-site):– CommendationsCommendations– Areas of Mutual ConcernAreas of Mutual Concern– ConsiderationsConsiderations

• Debriefing OptionsDebriefing Options– Principal and invited others (after the Principal and invited others (after the

school day)school day)– Preliminary report out to staff (same day)Preliminary report out to staff (same day)– Comprehensive report out (one month Comprehensive report out (one month

later) later)


The ReportThe Report

• A comprehensive report will be A comprehensive report will be sent to the Superintendent and sent to the Superintendent and Principal within a month:Principal within a month:– Safe Schools Assessment ReportSafe Schools Assessment Report– KIDS Count DataKIDS Count Data– SS Survey ReportsSS Survey Reports– Safe School DataSafe School Data– Physical Plant ReportPhysical Plant Report


• Meeting with the Principal and staffMeeting with the Principal and staff– Follow-up with Site-Based Council (if Follow-up with Site-Based Council (if

requested)requested)

• Meeting with the Superintendent Meeting with the Superintendent – Follow-up with Board of Education (if Follow-up with Board of Education (if

requested)requested)

• Meeting with the School Safety CoordinatorMeeting with the School Safety Coordinator• Wrap around services (available upon Wrap around services (available upon

request)request)

Accountability and Follow-upAccountability and Follow-up


How are schools and districts How are schools and districts using the assessment?using the assessment?

• A baseline for continual A baseline for continual improvementimprovement

• An objective “needs An objective “needs assessment” for the assessment” for the Comprehensive School Comprehensive School Improvement PlanImprovement Plan

• Objective data for grant writingObjective data for grant writing• Objective data upon which to Objective data upon which to

base staff developmentbase staff development• A way to leverage additional A way to leverage additional

“wrap-around” services“wrap-around” services• PDS – KDE recommendationsPDS – KDE recommendations


How has the assessment How has the assessment process been accepted?process been accepted?


Safe Schools Assessments Safe Schools Assessments 2003-20082003-2008


Safe School Assessments

Legend

Visits for FY 03- 10 Districts, 13 Schools

Includes KY School for the Blind and KY School for the Deaf





Legend








Legend

Visits for FY 03 - 10 Districts, 13 Schools


Visits for FY05 – 32 Districts, 63 Schools






Legend







Safe Schools Assessments Safe Schools Assessments 2003-20082003-2008Kentucky Center for School Safety


Legend

Visits for FY 03 – 10 Districts, 13 Schools







Safe Schools AssessmentsSafe Schools Assessments 2003-20082003-2008



Legend








Safe Schools Assessments

FY 2009



Legend












Legend








Visits for FY10 ‒ 31 Districts, 61 Schools

Safe Schools AssessmentsFY 2010

Safe Schools AssessmentsSafe Schools AssessmentsFY 2011FY 2011




Legend









Visits for FY11 ‒30 Districts, 58 Schools

Safe Schools AssessmentsSafe Schools AssessmentsFY 2012FY 2012




Legend












Costs Associated with the Costs Associated with the Assessment processAssessment process

SchoolsSchools

• This is a free service to the school district This is a free service to the school district (schools)(schools)– Mailing of materials to the centerMailing of materials to the center– Copying of survey documents for Copying of survey documents for

distribution distribution


• Schools continue to Schools continue to be a “Safe Place” be a “Safe Place” for kids to be!!!for kids to be!!!

• The process The process remains popular remains popular and is growingand is growing

• The partnership The partnership between KCSS, between KCSS, KSBA and KDE KSBA and KDE continues to make continues to make sensesense

KDEKDE

KSBAKSBA

KCSSKCSS

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned


Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

• Principal “buy in” is criticalPrincipal “buy in” is critical• Sampling of students, parents and Sampling of students, parents and

staff does not always yield rich data staff does not always yield rich data resultsresults

• Staff/students want their voices and Staff/students want their voices and concerns to be heardconcerns to be heard

• When it comes to liability, a pro-When it comes to liability, a pro-active position is preferableactive position is preferable


Lessons LearnedLessons Learned“Commendations”“Commendations”

• Staff & Students reported Staff & Students reported feeling safe while at feeling safe while at schoolschool

• Most students feel that Most students feel that they can confide in at they can confide in at least one significant adult least one significant adult ****

• Staff feel comfortable Staff feel comfortable that their safety concerns that their safety concerns will be heardwill be heard


LessonsLessons LearnedLearned““CommendationsCommendations””

• There is a common understanding of There is a common understanding of school rules and the consequences for school rules and the consequences for breaking thembreaking them

• Schools are trending toward a “school-Schools are trending toward a “school-wide” behavior management system wide” behavior management system (Instructional Discipline)(Instructional Discipline)

• Staff understand what is expected of Staff understand what is expected of them in terms of “student supervision”them in terms of “student supervision”

• Students and staff routinely rehearse fire Students and staff routinely rehearse fire and severe weather protocolsand severe weather protocols



• There is an There is an “increased comfort “increased comfort level” among level” among students to report students to report safety concernssafety concerns

• Schools are clean Schools are clean and well maintained and well maintained – creating a sense of – creating a sense of pride & connectionpride & connection



• Schools are beginning to Schools are beginning to distinguish between distinguish between “School Safety Plans” and “School Safety Plans” and “Crisis Response Plans”“Crisis Response Plans”

• Many schools have a Many schools have a “formalized” school safety “formalized” school safety committeecommittee

• Schools are appreciative of Schools are appreciative of follow-up or “wrap- around” follow-up or “wrap- around” servicesservices


“ “Areas of Mutual Concerns”Areas of Mutual Concerns”((based upon surveys and interviews)based upon surveys and interviews)

• Bullying and harassment remain Bullying and harassment remain a concern at all grade levelsa concern at all grade levels

• Perception of Drug and Alcohol Perception of Drug and Alcohol useuse

• There remains a strong need for There remains a strong need for alternative options to alternative options to suspension/expulsionsuspension/expulsion


Lessons LearnedLessons Learned“Areas of Mutual Concerns”“Areas of Mutual Concerns”

• Consistency – Lack of Consistency – Lack of consistent and proper consistent and proper supervision supervision techniquestechniques

• Consistency – School Consistency – School “rules” or policy “rules” or policy enforcementenforcement

• Complacency – Complacency – Dangerous Dangerous Instruments/WeaponsInstruments/Weapons



• Access Control – Doors remain unlocked and open, negating a single point of entryAccess Control – Doors remain unlocked and open, negating a single point of entry• Teacher Identification – Staff routinely do not wear name tags as a means of identificationTeacher Identification – Staff routinely do not wear name tags as a means of identification• Surveillance – Cameras are not monitored consistently. Doors and windows are coveredSurveillance – Cameras are not monitored consistently. Doors and windows are covered• Cell phones- Teachers and students rate cell phone abuse as a major problem. Lack of Cell phones- Teachers and students rate cell phone abuse as a major problem. Lack of

effective school board policies and inconsistent monitoring have contributed to this chronic effective school board policies and inconsistent monitoring have contributed to this chronic problem.problem.



• Visitor sign in – Visitors often do Visitor sign in – Visitors often do not sign in or wear “school not sign in or wear “school specific” identificationspecific” identification

• Emergency Management – Emergency Management – Schools often do not practice Schools often do not practice “lockdown” scenarios or “lockdown” scenarios or coordinate response protocols coordinate response protocols with local law enforcement and with local law enforcement and local industrylocal industry

• Schools are not designed or Schools are not designed or retro-fitted with safety/security retro-fitted with safety/security as a primary concernas a primary concern


Have we made “Adequate Have we made “Adequate Yearly Progress?”Yearly Progress?”







How does the team work?How does the team work?

• Be preparedBe prepared – understand the information that – understand the information that is sent to you prior to the visit – survey resultsis sent to you prior to the visit – survey results

• Team LeaderTeam Leader will brief you on the materials will brief you on the materials that were sent to the Center – prior to the visitthat were sent to the Center – prior to the visit

• Team Leader will provide you with a “Draft” Team Leader will provide you with a “Draft” report after the visit – you are to report after the visit – you are to critique and critique and offer suggestions based upon your offer suggestions based upon your observationsobservations

• The team works as an extension of our The team works as an extension of our collective agencies and/school districts.collective agencies and/school districts.

• The team works as a unitThe team works as a unit


Team member expectationsTeam member expectations

• Represent yourself professionallyRepresent yourself professionally• Make every attempt to honor your commitmentMake every attempt to honor your commitment• Arrive on timeArrive on time• This is truly an opportunity to help a This is truly an opportunity to help a

school/districtschool/district• Expect to have a Expect to have a fullfull dayday• Expect to see things differently – Expect to see things differently – enjoy itenjoy it• Expect to be changed by the processExpect to be changed by the process


Contact InformationContact Information

• Jon Akers (KCSS): (877) 805-4277

• Barbara Gateskill (KCSS): (877) 805-4277

• Bill Scott (KSBA): (502) 695-4630

Documents

Kentucky Center for School Safety. The Assessment Process Enhancing Safe and Healthy Learning Environments