NCES investigates that most elementary and junior high schools prohibit the use of mobile phones for non-educational purposes
WASHINGTON — A new body of data sheds light on the state of school crime and safety, as well as school climate, in U.S. public schools. This includes research showing that 76% of public schools prohibit the use of cell phones and smartphones for non-academic purposes during class. school time.
Additionally, new research from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a U.S. statistics center, shows that 90% of public schools will provide social support to students in response to the 2021-2022 coronavirus pandemic.・Responded that psychological support has been strengthened. Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the Ministry of Education.
Additionally, 67% of public schools had at least one violent incident in 2021-2022.
The data also shows that 71 percent of high schools/middle schools reported at least one incident of distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs, compared to 2017-18 (76 percent) and 2019-20 (77 percent). It also shows that it is decreasing. percent).
“These critically important data address some of the challenges public schools face in focusing on teaching and learning, including violence, drug use, and bullying,” said NCES Secretary Peggy G. Carr. It has been made clear.” “At the same time, we also gained insight into how public schools are increasing support beyond academics, including finding that nine out of 10 public schools are increasing social and emotional supports for students. You can.”
The new data comes from the NCES School Crime and Safety Survey, a nationally representative survey of approximately 4,800 public elementary and middle schools. This study was conducted from February 15 to July 19, 2022.
The Crime and Safety School Survey report and technical information are available online at https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2024043.
Main findings
school environment
• Approximately 857,500 violent incidents and 479,500 nonviolent incidents were recorded in public schools in 2021-2022.
• 67% of public schools reported experiencing at least one violent incident. Additionally, 59% reported experiencing at least one nonviolent incident.
• Approximately 71% of public high schools/secondary schools reported at least one incident of illegal drug distribution, possession, or use in 2021-2022. This figure represents a decrease when compared to 2017-18 (76 per cent) and 2019-20 (77 per cent).
• According to 2021-2022 School Crime and Safety Data, more public schools (3 percent) reported at least one hate crime, compared to 2 percent in the 2019-20 and 2017-18 school years. Increased by 1 point.
• Schools were also asked about factors limiting their efforts to reduce or prevent crime. The two factors most commonly reported as limiting these efforts “in a significant way” were a lack or inadequacy of alternative placements or programs for disruptive students (30%) and a lack of funding (30%). 27%).
Bullying and cyberbullying
• A higher proportion of middle schools reported bullying occurred at least once a week in school in 2021-22, with 28% saying it happened at least once a week, compared to 15% of high school/secondary schools; In elementary school, it was 10%.
• Similarly, 37 percent of middle schools and 25 percent of high school/secondary schools reported cyberbullying at least once a week in or out of school, compared to 6 percent of elementary schools. .
Safety and security practices in public schools
• Public schools also reported having different types of security guards on campus at least once a week. Approximately 46% of traditional public schools had a school resource officer (SRO) in the 2021-22 school year. That compares to 18 percent for charter schools. In contrast, charter schools were more likely to report having a guard or security officer (35 percent) compared to traditional public schools (25 percent).
• Additionally, the data shows that the percentage of public schools with sworn law enforcement officers who routinely carry firearms in school is decreasing. The figure for 2021-22 was 45%, down from 51% in 2019-20. However, the latest numbers were not that different from 2017-2018, when 47% of public school law enforcement officers carried firearms.
• During the 2021-22 school year, 92% of public schools said they had a formal plan to prepare for and respond to a multi-national or global pandemic infection. Schools also described procedures that would be followed in a variety of other crisis scenarios, including mass shootings (96%), natural disasters (96%), suicide threats or incidents (94%), and bomb threats (92%). I was creating a plan.
• In 2021-2022, a higher percentage of elementary schools (87 percent), middle schools (77 percent), and all other grade schools combined (70 percent) will use cell phones in school compared to high schools and high schools. reported that they have a policy prohibiting non-academic use of Secondary school (43%).
Support for students
• Public schools were asked whether they engage in restorative practices (often referred to as “restorative justice”) with their students. Fifty-nine percent of public schools said they were doing so, about the same as in 2019-20 but higher than 42% in 2017-18.
• About 72 percent of charter schools reported engaging students in restorative practices, which was higher than the percentage of traditional public schools that reported doing so (58 percent).
• 49% of public schools conducted diagnostic mental health assessments to assess student mental health disorders in 2021-2022. This number was down from 55% in 2019-20, but not significantly different from 2017-18. In 2021-2022, 38% of schools provided treatment for mental health disorders to students. This figure is down from 2019-20 (42 per cent), but not measurably different from 2017-18.
• Approximately 90% of public schools offered tutoring, tutoring, or coaching for students by adults.
