Key points:
- It’s critical to create safe school environments for staff and students
- Collaborating with law enforcement to strengthen school safety
- Wearable panic buttons help us better protect students and educators
- For more news on school safety, visit eSN’s Educational Leadership hub
Although 77 percent of educators and administrators say they believe school safety significantly impacts staff retention and recruitment, only 33 percent feel that their school or district highly prioritizes staff safety, according to the 2024 National Educator Survey Report from CENTEGIX.
Findings from the nationwide survey of 530 K-12 educators and administrators call attention to the critical issue of school safety, including pervasive concerns around staff safety, recruitment, retention, and their impact on student learning and well-being.
The survey findings also highlight the importance of creating safe school environments that empower staff to be part of initiating a safety response protocol for any and all emergency situations.
Key findings of the report include:
- School safety directly impacts student achievement and well-being
- 84 percent affirm that school safety directly impacts student achievement
- 83 percent report that students have some level of concern for their safety while at school
- 56 percent report that they lose two or more hours of instructional time each week–the equivalent of nine or more school days annually–to address emergency or safety incidents
- School safety is a key factor in educator retention and recruitment
- 77 percent believe school safety significantly impacts staff retention and recruitment
- 45 percent have considered leaving or have left their job due to feeling unsafe
- 57 percent know of a colleague who has left their job due to feeling unsafe
- Personal safety and emergency preparedness are top-of-mind for educators
- 80 percent regularly think of their own physical safety when at work
- Only 33 percent perceive high prioritization of staff safety by schools
- 74 percent don’t feel fully supported by their employer to handle emergency incidents
The survey also provided insight into the many resources educators use to handle emergency situations. The most prominent was cell phones, with nearly 40 percent reported to use these to initiate requests for help. While using a cell phone may seem like the quickest and most reliable option, in many cases when under duress, operating a cell phone can create issues and underscore barriers. The best outcomes occur when personnel are notified immediately and able to respond quickly. The survey results revealed large and inconsistent gaps in notification and response time, with an average of 3-11 minutes to notify emergency personnel (43 percent) and 6-11 minutes to receive a response (44 percent). Rapid response is critical in emergency situations.
“The survey findings emphasize the reality of school safety concerns and impacts on student achievement. Identifying the right safety solution for your district can be challenging. My district immediately saw issues when staff relied on their personal cell phones,” said Ron Self, director of safety and security in the Little Rock School District.
“We know that safety is a top priority for our nation’s schools. The survey findings illustrate the wide-ranging impact of school safety on staff and students and the urgency of ensuring that our educators have the tools they need to feel confident and safe,” said Dr. Roderick Sams, a 20-year educator and administrator and current chief development officer of CENTEGIX. “By providing schools with the most innovative and easy-to-use safety technology, we can empower them to get help if a situation can be resolved more rapidly with assistance. Knowing their administration supports them can ensure our teachers and staff feel valued and can focus on instructing students. Additionally, our students can prioritize their education, and ultimately districts can set them up for future success.”
This press release originally appeared online.
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