Safe Texas Schools : Policy Initiatives and Programs.

Although overall crime rates in Texas are decreasing, violent crime rates among juveniles in the state are on the rise. This document describes the scope of the school violence problem in Texas based on available data. It describes current national and Texas policy initiatives and programs related to school safety and violence prevention. Information on trends in national and state crime rates is provided for the following areas: violent crimes; school violence; sexual harassment; and educators' perceptions of the problem. This report also presents data on weapons arrests in Texas, summarizes Texas House and Senate bills that facilitate collaboration and information sharing, describes school districts' responses to school violence and campus security measures, and provides information on the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA). Major themes that have emerged as a result of state-level efforts include the following: (1) the importance of forming partnerships and sharing information among schools, law enforcement, and juvenile probation agencies; (2) the need for accurate record keeping and reporting of misconduct at school; (3) the importance of establishing alternative education programs for those students who cannot be successful in the regular school environment; (4) the importance of establishing a system for recognizing schools with effective safety and violence prevention programs; and (5) the need for staff development. Six charts are included. Contains 53 references. (LMI)

Policy Research, n3 Apr 1994. ericd

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.