Examining Perceptions of School Safety Strategies, School Climate, and Violence

Abstract

The two main aims of the research were to (a) examine any differences in perceptions of school climate and safety practices between students and teachers and (b) investigate whether school climate and major safety variables predict the perceived importance of safety strategies. Using 184 student reports and 32 teacher reports, results revealed teachers’ perceptions of the connection/climate items were significantly higher than students’ perceptions. Students’ feelings of school climate and violence were associated with ratings on the importance of safety strategies, such that higher ratings on the connection/climate and incivility and disruption scales significantly predicted the perceived importance of rule enforcement strategies.