If you're like many parents, the idea of your child's safety at school can seem overwhelming and frightening.
Do your kids feel safe at school? What is your child's school doing to keep its students safe?

This school safety checklist from the Family Education Network offers sound advice as your children head back to school.
Launched in September, 2000, the mission of Family Education Network is to be an online consumer network of the world's best learning and information resources, personalized to help parents, teachers, and students of all ages take control of their learning and make it part of their everyday lives.

http://school.familyeducation.com/safety/parents-and-school/38678.html?detoured=1

School Safety Checklist

by FamilyEducation Staff

Developed byEducation Development Center, Inc.

School safety is everyone's business. The best safety effort will involve all aspects of your child's school, including classroom instruction, school services, and the school climate.

If you're like many parents, the very idea of "school safety" is overwhelming and frightening. Do your kids feel safe at school?What's the school doingto keep its students safe? Use this list of questions to find out if you school could be doing more.

Getting Started

Take this checklist with you to your next PTO meeting and review it with other parents.

Ask a group of parents to fill it. You can then present it to the principal.

Fill it out with your child.

Send it to your local school board for its consideration.

The List

Is student safety a priority for your school and your community?
Do parents have access to reports that include information about the number of violent or other unsafe incidents at the school?
Does your school have procedures for responding quickly to unsafe situations?
Is your school addressing ways to prevent as well as respond to crises?
Are the school board, school principal, school superintendent, teachers, school staff, parents, students, and community professionals all involved in these efforts?
Has someone been designated to coordinate activities to maintain a safe and healthy environment?
Are counselors and psychologists available to work with students who are troubled or disruptive?
Do students in all grades participate in classes to help them develop conflict resolution and other life skills?
Do school health service providers help or refer students who come to them with concerns about safety?
Does the school emphasize promoting self-esteem and respect for others in all aspects of the school program?
Are parents and students involved in activities that promote school safety?
Are teachers encouraged to set examples of positive physical, social, and emotional health?
Does the school have fair, firm, consistent discipline policies?
Are school facilities attractive and hazard-free?
Is safety addressed in all aspects of the school program-the cafeteria, physical education, classrooms, playgrounds, after-school programs, etc.?
Do school staff, parents, and community members working on school safety collaborate?