Looking at the Big Picture: School Administrators and Violence Reduction

Abstract

This study investigated district and site administrators’ perceptions of school violence and violence prevention programs in fifteen school districts of various sizes in twelve states located across the United States. The study focused upon: (1) school administrators’ fears about violence, (2) frequency of administrators as victims of violent actions over the past two years, (3) areas in the school environment which pose the greatest risk for violence for students or school personnel, (4) profiles of typical victims and perpetrators of violence, (5) strategies implemented by schools/districts to reduce violence, (6) perceptions regarding which strategies were considered to be the most and least effective in reducing violence, and (7) the cost to school districts for violence prevention. The study concluded by providing a suggested plan of action to remediate and reduce violence in schools.