Welcome to the Certification Training - S.A.V.E.

Schools Against Violence in Education

Agenda:

• Reality check: What constitutes violence?

• An overview of NYS Legislation• Prevention efforts in your school• Prevention efforts in your

classroom• Understanding the people we

serve, both young and older

Housekeeping…

• Restrooms??• No Breaks

• Forms

• Your hope to get….

A little history:• Increasing number of violent

events involving youth on school property…Jonesboro, Pearl, Peducah, Santee, Columbine, etc.

• Bill passed on July 24, 2000• Full compliance by all school

districts was expected by July, 2001

Questions to consider…• What constitutes VIOLENCE?• Are there acceptable forms of

violence?• Is violence something new to

our schools?

With your elbow partner, or with others at your table, discuss these questions.

What about the emphasis on bullying behavior in schools?• Bullying behavior is an intentional

act of violence that harms, or threatens to harm, a person’s physical, social, mental, intellectual or emotional well being.

• The bully and the victim display an imbalance of power.

• The bullying behavior occurs over and over again.

• It is a choice. It is learned behavior.

Ultimately, bullying leads to violence.• Bullies have a lack of respect of human

rights.• Bullies show high rates of fighting with

peers, especially at the middle school level.

• Recent school shootings demonstrate the victim’s frustration with a failed system. The victim turns to vengeful violence.

Bullying behavior is shown to result in:

• A drop in grades• Less involvement in school

activities for fear of being made fun of.

• The victim feeling more anxious, withdrawn, retaliatory

• Other health related problems, such as lack of sleep, over eating, under-eating, depression, suicide, and murder.

Violence is…• Violence is any word, act, or look

that hurts, or threatens to hurt, a person’s body, feelings, belongings or reputation.

• It is a learned behavior.

• It is a choice people make.

Today’s influences on behavior:

• Growing infusion of drugs• Easy accessibility to guns• Harmful messages supported by

the popular media• The decline of family structure and

values• An “it’s not my problem” mentality

How SAVE WORKS…• Governor and Legislators decide• N.Y.S. Education Department is

assigned the task of training• Certified trainers exist across the

NYS• Anyone working with children in

schools is required to receive this certification training.

Safe Schools in Violence in Education LegislationAddresses many important issues that impact

education and educators. These are the components:

• SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN• CODES OF CONDUCT

• DISRUPTIVE PUPIL REMOVAL• CHARACTER EDUCATION

• PREVENTION CURRICULUM• VIOLENT INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM

• COURT NOTIFICATION• WHISTLE-BLOWER PROTECTION

• ASSAULTS ON TEACHERS• CHILD ABUSE IN AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING

• SILENT REGISNATIONS• TEACHER DISCIPLINE

• PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES & APPLICANTS FOR CERTIFICATION

School Safety Plans Include:• The District Plan• The School Emergency Response• Guidelines for prevention and

intervention• Includes emergency response and

violent reporting system• Every school and district must

submit these forms to SED• SED reviews the plan for required

components• Some schools and districts will

receive guidance to achieve compliance

District Safety Plan: Board of Education of every district develops a comprehensive plan that includes:

:• Policies and procedures for responding to threats, acts of violence, and appropriate intervention/ prevention strategies (I.e. Conflict resolution, peer mediation, Youth Court, etc.

• Law enforcement is contacts• Parent/guardian notification protocols• Building plan, layout and security measures• Dissemination of information protocols• Proof of annual school safety training• Stated duties of hall monitors/SROs/ sentries• Communication strategies for both students and

adults• A safety team

The District plan includes the selection of a Safety Team and includes:

• A representative of the Board of Education

• Students• Administrators• Parent organization members• School safety personnel• Other representatives appointed

by the Board of Education

Building Level Emergency Response Plans…

• Includes team members• Uses the guidelines established by

the Board of Education• Informs the local law enforcement

agencies and the NYS Police

School Safety Plan :

• Should be part of staff training• Requires drills to establish the plan• Provides for an equipped command

post• Communicates all changes to law

enforcement• Requires the plans to be in an

accessible, secure place

Codes of Conduct defines the maintenance of order on School grounds• Adopted by the School Board• Governs the conduct of all students and all

adults…• Developed by a representative group• Codes of conduct should be known by all

students and parents• All aspects are considered for different

settings• Full copy of this document is available for

inspection upon request• Must provide in-service regarding the

assessment of threats, how to determine if threats are credible and the kind of disciplinary response under this code.

Minimum elements of the code of Conduct includes:

• Appropriate dress and language• Security issues• Removal from classroom• Disciplinary procedures• VADIR adherence• Procedures for parental notification• “Code” Review committee• Procedures related to PINS• Minimum suspension periods

Disruptive Student Removal

• Allows teachers to remove a disruptive student from the classroom or event room.

• Is consistent with the codes of conduct

• Most likely has been reviewed by a legal team to ensure safeguards

Disruptive student removal:• A disruptive student interferes with

the teacher’s authority or the educational process

• A teacher can remove a pupil who commits an act of violence, possesses or threatens to use a weapon, damages anyone’s property or school property

Disruptive student (con’t)

• A principal can suspend a pupil without specific board delegation of that authority for 5 days, but must include minimum periods of suspension, as stated in the codes of conduct.

• The student must be informed for the reason for removal

• Parents must be notified within 24 hours and within a specific number of hours a conference will occur.

• Negotiation may occur.

Character Education: • What does it look like in your

buildings?• What kinds of character

education have you been involved with, or conducted?

Character Education enforces the 3 C’s: civility, citizenship and character building…

Kinds of Character Education and Prevention Programs

• No Bullying• Conflict Resolution• Peer Mediation• Respect and Protect• No Put Downs• Empathy Training

Violent Incident Reporting System:

• A school report card is submitted to the governor

• The report includes1. #’s and types of violent incidents2. #’s of suspensions3. Actions taken by the school4. Age and grade of disciplined

students

Court Notification• Requires family and criminal

court to contact the school about juvenile delinquency adjudication

• Schools must appoint a designated educational official (DEO)

• Cannot be part of the student academic record

• Information can be used to guide the student educational plan.

Whistle Blower Protection

• Employees who report a violent incident may not be fired for reporting

• Protected by civil liability

Assaults on teachers

• INCREASES ASSAULTS ON TEACHERS TO A CLASS D FELONY - FROM A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR

Child Abuse in an Educational Setting

• Child abuse is defined

• Requires immediate reporting to school authorities, parents, and law enforcement

• Defines mandatory reporters

• Requires a written report of allegations to school officials

• Building administrator will determine reasonable suspicion, notify parents, forward a report to law enforcement.

Silent Resignations• Ends the practice of allowing a

person to resign rather than disclose allegations of child abuse and other illegal matters

• Applies to licensed and certified personnel

• Criminal prosecution: Administrators who don’t comply

face a class E felony, a civil penalty up to $20,000 + 4 yrs in prison!

• Provides civil and criminal immunity to those who comply in good faith.

Teacher Discipline

• Commissioner has authority to impose penalties against certificate holders: provide professional development, written plan of improvement, mentor

• In addition to revocation of a teaching license, this component expands the range of measures: – Suspension– Continuing education– Prescribed Therapy

Finger Printing

• Requires prospective school district employees and applicants to be fingerprinted

• Background checks are conducted

Understanding the Individual: Risk and Protective Factors

• Some students are violent,

• Most kids are not.

• Some youth use drugs.

• Others don’t

• WHY??????

RISK FACTORS:• INDIVIDUAL:• Hyperactivity, concentration problems,

restlessness and risk taking• Aggressiveness• Early initiation of violent behavior• Involvement in other forms of anti-social

behavior

• FAMILY:• Parental criminality • child abuse• Low level of parental involvement• Too many family changes…

RISK FACTORS ( CONTINUED)

• PEER RELATED• Delinquent siblings, peers • Gang membership

• SCHOOL :• Academic failure• Truancy, dropping out/non-completer• Frequent transitions

• COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORHOOD• Poverty• Community disorganization• Exposure to violence• High crime involving adults

PROTECTIVE FACTORS• INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS• BONDING OPPORTUNITIES• HEALTHY ADULT ROLE MODEL(S)

The DOMAINS… EDUCATION

LAWS/REGULATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Assets and their impact on the total person…

• Think of a person in your life who positively influenced what you accomplished in your lifetime.

• Share this story with the person next to you stating the relationship and the action that influenced you.

• Closing remarks

• Reminder about forms

• Video

Purpose is the spark of life. If children have no purpose in life, their energy remains waiting for

an opportunity to use it. The result may be destruction to self or to

others.As educators, we have an

obligation to funnel their energy into something positive, into

something that will impact the rest of their lives. As adults, we have

the responsibility to make learning environments safe.