creating safe schools in iowa safe school certification program brent l. robins, director...

Creating Safe Schools in Iowa

Safe School Certification Program

Brent L. Robins, Directorbrent@safeschoolcertification.orgwww.safeschoolcertificaton.org

27th Annual Risky Business ConferenceTuesday, May 1, 2012

Scheman Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Purpose The Law SSCP Overview SSCP Process Contact Us

Why Certify Schools as “Safe”?

• Goal of Schools: Student academic achievement• School climate Academic achievement

Deliberate efforts to improve the climate

are necessary.

Climate

Ach

ieve

men

t

Shindler, J. Exploring school climate - student achievement connection: and making sense of why the first precedes the second. Alliance for the Study of School Climate.


How?

Whole-School Approach• Rules & Sanctions• Teacher Training• Classroom Curricula• Individual Counseling

Shindler, Vreeman and Carroll (2007). Social & Emotional Learning & Bullying Prevention (2009).


Believe Change Can Happen

“Bullying is a learned behavior. If it can be learned, it can be examined, and it can be changed.”

~ Barbara Coloroso

Coloroso, B. (2003). The bully, the bullied, and the bystander: from preschool to high school--how parents and teachers can help break the cycle of violence. New York: Harper Collins.


A Call to Action

“When staff reach a consensus on what bullying is and agree to intervene to prevent and reduce it, rates of bullying drop significantly.”

Wright (2004) cited in SEL and Bullying Prevention (2009).


Federal Civil Rights Laws

LawLocation in

the LawProtected Categories

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI• Race• Color• National Origin

Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX Sex

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 504Disability

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Title II


Iowa Civil Rights Act

Prohibits discrimination in: • employment• housing• credit• public accommodations• education


Iowa Civil Rights Act

• race• color• creed• national origin• religion• sex

• sexual orientation • gender identity• pregnancy• physical disability• mental disability• retaliation

Discrimination in education is illegal if based on:


Iowa Safe Schools Law

Big Picture – No bullying/harassment by• students• school employees• school volunteers

17 enumerated categories


Iowa Safe Schools Law

17 enumerated categories• Age• Color• Creed• National Origin• Race• Religion• Marital Status• Sex

• Sexual Orientation• Gender Identity• Physical Attributes• Physical/Mental Disability• Ancestry• Political Party Preference• Political Belief• Socioeconomic Status• Familial Status


What Is a ‘Safe School’?

Foundation: 2007 Iowa Safe Schools Law

16 Requirements – “Letter of the Law”• Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Policy (1-12)

• Data collection & reporting (13-15)

• Non-discrimination policy (16)


What Is a ‘Safe School’?

8 Additional Elements – “Spirit of the Law”

• Programs• Buy-In• Training• Leadership

• Student Engagement• Enforcement• Data• Family/Community

Engagement


Safe School Certification Program (SSCP)

Focus:• Compliance with Iowa Safe Schools Law

- 16 requirements

• Additional elements of a safe school- 8 elements

Funding:• Iowa Safe and Supportive Schools Grant


Safe School Certification

Benefits to students and schools:• Fee free

• Voluntary

• Focus: Schools as safe places (all benefit)

• 1:1 ongoing support

• Compliance with federal and state laws

• Recognition and honor


SSCP Coalition

• Iowa Department of Education• Commission on the Status of

African Americans• Iowa State Education

Association• Iowa Civil Rights Commission• Commission on the Status of

Women• Iowa Pride Network

• Latino Affairs Commission• Interfaith Alliance of Iowa• Commission on Persons with

Disabilities• Iowa Safe Schools• Iowa Department of Human

Rights• Commission on the Status of

Native Americans



Source: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

• Social environment focus• Assessing bullying• Staff and parental support• Coordinating team• Training for school staff



Source: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

• Rules and policies• Increased adult supervision• Intervene consistently & appropriately• Devote class time to prevention• Ongoing efforts



School expresses

interest in the program.

All school staff complete

online interest survey.

School is accepted intothe program.

Bullying/ Harassment

policy is audited.

Building Investigator is selected/train

ed.

School works on 8 Elements

& stays in touch w/

SSCP.

School submits

artifacts for8 Elements.

SSCP Staff & Advisory

determine certification.

Induction Ceremony &

ongoing audits.



Element #8: Family/Community Engagement – The school engages families and the community in its diversity efforts.

Desired State Met/Sustaining (2)

In Progress (1)

Not Started/Not Met (0) Notes

Community and family members are involved in the school Leadership Team.

Community and family members are actively involved.

Community and family members are included, but not actively involved.

Community and family members are not actively involved or not represented.

School educates parents and the community about anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy through community campaigns.

Clear evidence of education efforts are provided.

Education efforts are made but are not effective.

No education efforts are made.

The school utilizes guest speakers.

Guest speakers address bullying and harassment issues and provide education.

Guest speakers are utilized but are not effective.

Guest speakers are not utilized.

The school initiates community discussions regarding diversity.

Discussions are regularly initiated in a variety of ways.

Discussions are initiated but on an inconsistent basis.

No discussions are initiated by the school.

Subtotal Score – Page 1 / 12 % A score of 100% is required for

certification.

A score below this indicates more time is needed for the school to meet this standard.

Schools are encouraged to complete certification within 18 – 24 months.

Subtotal Score – Page 2 / 12 %




Grand Total / 62 %


Program Support

For all schools:• Individualized plan• On-site visits• Investigator training• Monthly webinars• Assessment of current status


Contact Us

Please Visitwww.safeschoolcertification.org

Please CallBrent Robins, DirectorSafe School Certification [email protected]

Gayle Canada, CoordinatorSafe School Certification [email protected]

creating safe schools in iowa safe school certification program brent l. robins, director...

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