School violence prevention: 10 ways to create safer schools

What is school violence?

School violence is defined as any violent behavior that occurs on school property, during events hosted by a school or during travel to or from school-led events. Finding ways to prevent violence in schools is paramount to providing students a well-rounded education, with victimization and bullying consistently linked to decreases in academic achievements.

Examples of behaviors that constitute school violence include:

• Physical altercations: Fighting, punching, slapping, kicking etc
• The use of weapons: Both as an instrument of harm and as a threat
• Psychological abuse: Verbal harassment, isolation, spreading false rumors etc
• Sexual violence: Physical assault and verbal harassment 
• Cyberbullying: Using technology to threaten, harass and embarrass a victim

What causes school violence?

The main causes of school violence include issues in a child’s home environment, problems with substance abuse and access to weapons. 

A 2017 study conducted by the Cochrane Library details a list of individual risk factors known to influence the occurrence of school violence among school-aged children. Examples include:

• Hyperactivity and impulsivity
• Poor academic performance
• Witnessing violent behaviors
• Access to weapons
• Living in areas with high crime rate

How to prevent school violence: 10 strategies to consider

Preventing school violence requires thoughtful consideration by all faculty members due to the many factors that can contribute to violent behaviors. No two schools will face the same combination of environmental, personal and social issues that can cause students to exhibit signs of violence and aggression, so teachers must carefully analyze their unique situation.

While there is no one-size-fits all approach to preventing violence in schools, there are many reliable strategies and policies that can help to mitigate risks. Below are 10 such strategies to consider for teachers wishing to learn how to stop school violence impacting their schools.

1. Define clear rules and consequences 

Students need clearly defined rules that communicate acceptable boundaries for their actions and impactful but fair consequences. Demonstrating that smaller actions like using rude language will be identified and handled fairly forms the foundations of school violence prevention by teaching students that rule-breaking will be consistently addressed.

2. Be an active presence in students’ lives

When teachers and caregivers take the time to engage with students, a strong bond can be formed between both parties. Showing respect and empathy to all students, especially those who may be experiencing problems outside of school, can be one of the most effective ways to prevent school violence.

Being active in students’ lives also helps teachers spot changes in behavior that could be precursors to acts of violence. For example, it could be a warning sign if a child begins to withdraw from their friends or disengage with extracurricular activities. Noticing this early can help teachers provide the necessary support.

3. Provide support to at-risk individuals

Identifying at-risk students in a safe and sensitive manner can be challenging – but when done effectively, this process allows for the provision of personalized support, such as professional mental health services and academic assistance, to students showing early signs of violent or disruptive behavior. By addressing these issues proactively, schools can create a more supportive and positive environment for all students.

School administrators may explore partnering with mental health professionals to develop responsible and effective support programs. In some situations, school safety grants provided by organizations like SAMHSA may help teachers develop infrastructure for school-based mental health services intended to aid school violence prevention policies.

4. Enact zero-tolerance policies for violence

Preventing school violence should be approached from multiple angles. While it’s important to facilitate a safe environment where students can feel comfortable with faculty members, teachers must also ensure that violent behaviors are unacceptable.

Enacting zero-tolerance policies can be an effective deterrent. If students know that serious actions like physical assault, weapon possession and harassment will always lead to serious consequences, school violence may decrease.

5. Leverage technology to highlight trends

Observing student behavior is no easy task — especially in large schools or campuses. That’s why many schools leverage safety and security technologies as school violence prevention solutions. 

Data associated with security devices like occupancy sensors, security cameras and school vape detectors can highlight emerging trends such as absenteeism and substance abuse. If left unaddressed, perpetrators may feel emboldened to engage in more violent activities, though analytics reports from security tools can help teachers identify issues before they escalate.

6. Implement access control solutions

Restricting access to both the main school premises and specific spaces inside the property can be an effective way to prevent school violence. Access readers at the main entrance can ensure only registered students are granted access, reducing the risk of outsiders causing issues and providing records of access events to aid investigations.

Weapons detector systems can also be integrated into access points to deter students from bringing dangerous items into the school, with credential data helping staff link individuals to incidents. Slowing down entry into the school via access systems can also provide security staff the opportunity to conduct bag searches and visual inspections if threat levels are high.

7. Develop emergency response plans 

When learning how to prevent violence in schools, faculty members must consider how to stop violent behaviors from escalating into more serious incidents. By implementing emergency response plans, administrators can help staff deescalate incidents appropriately.

This may involve the development of school panic alert systems that can be triggered by staff in the event of a violent altercation. Discreet panic buttons installed throughout the school, or in an app-based platform, can silently notify on-site security teams and local authorities of unfolding incidents. Appropriate responses can then be performed swiftly and effectively.

8. Support security staff with technology

Employing dedicated school security staff is essential – especially in large schools where faculty cannot manage security on its own. While the physical presence of security guards can help deter violent behaviors, school security technology solutions are still a must. 

Implementing dedicated security technologies like school security cameras, access control systems and environmental sensors can provide security staff a more holistic view of the property. When connected to a cloud-based management system, on-site staff can view live feeds and receive instant alerts about risks to support school violence prevention plans.

9. Create automated security responses

The technologies mentioned above can also be used to develop automated responses to common security incidents, helping staff ensure altercations are addressed promptly. For example, smart sensors installed in private areas like restrooms and secluded hallways can be linked to school alarm systems and programmed to trigger in response to shouting or raised voices.

More advanced automations can be developed to address life-threatening incidents. For instance, smart sensors and panic buttons may be connected to smart locks and security doors to engage full-site lockdowns in response to active harmer events. Implementing such automations helps prevent violence in schools by mitigating the impact of security threats.

10. Pursue continuous training initiatives 

Arguably the most important aspect of school violence prevention strategies is ensuring all faculty members understand how to follow policies and respond to incidents. Teachers and other staff should receive continuous training in observational best practices, emergency response procedures and the operation of security technologies to help improve outcomes.

Drills should be performed on a regular basis covering responses to active harmer events, emergency lockdowns and physical altercations, with documents outlining these plans made available in a shared system. Training should also cover how to identify early warning signs of violence like social withdrawal, bullying behaviors and patterns of impulsive activity.

School violence prevention key takeaways

Violence in schools continues to be a pressing issue for students and faculty members alike, with an estimated 256 million students becoming victims to school-related violence per year. To help facilitate a safe environment in which students can focus on their education, faculty members must commit to the development of effective school violence prevention strategies. 

All school community members must take an active role in identifying and addressing violent behavior. Staff should consider tailored combinations of behavioral and technological solutions to detect early warning signs and offer students the support they need to make positive choices. The ten practices outlined above can serve as valuable tools for educators in fostering a safer and more supportive environment.