Pennsylvania announces school safety and climate reviews

Safe Havens International will conduct the reviews in buildings designated as "Persistently Dangerous Schools," located in the School District of Philadelphia and the Harrisburg City School District.

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 6, 2010 -- Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak and State Board of Education Chair Joseph M. Torsella today announced the start of school safety and climate reviews in buildings designated as "Persistently Dangerous Schools," as well as other schools with significant school safety needs.

Safe Havens International, Inc., a nationally-recognized nonprofit school safety center, will conduct the reviews in school buildings located in the School District of Philadelphia and the Harrisburg City School District. Following the reviews, Safe Havens will provide detailed, building-level recommendations to ensure a safe and orderly educational experience for the students attending these schools.

"Safe Havens demonstrated the required experience in student supervision and school climate to assist schools in developing sustainable safety, security and emergency preparedness strategies," Zahorchak said.  "They will provide information on how each school can improve not only its physical security, but also the overall positive climate in the school and the surrounding community."

State standards define a persistently dangerous school as any public elementary, secondary or charter school that has a set number or percentage of dangerous incidents in relation to student enrollment.

Earlier this year, Zahorchak and Torsella joined other state education leaders in announcing a multi-faceted effort to improve school safety. The plan calls for providing schools with better tools to monitor school safety and proven models to create an environment of respect, social connectedness and community engagement.

"The first step in truly leaving no Pennsylvania child behind is an uncompromising commitment to his or her safety at school," Torsella said. "School safety is a precondition for student learning, and these reports will provide clear, specific recommendations for administrators ahead of the 2010-11 school year. The State Board has identified school safety as a top educational priority, and we look forward to reviewing these recommendations and monitoring their impact."

The Center for Safe Schools, a partner of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, issued a Request for Quotes nationally, seeking applications from qualified organizations and individuals to conduct the assessments.  Safe Havens was selected from eight applicants to partner with the Center for Safe Schools to coordinate the project.

Safe Havens will review each school's safety, security and crisis plans; conduct interviews with selected stakeholders; and evaluate the security policies in each building.

The Center for Safe Schools supports schools, local agencies and parents in developing and practicing emergency management and crisis response plans, creating positive school environments, implementing evidence-based programs and institutionalizing proactive safety measures in partnership with law enforcement and other community entities to address local needs. Visit the Center online at www.safeschools.info.

For more information on Pennsylvania's school safety initiatives, visit the Department of Education online at www.education.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Leah Harris, 717-783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education