Other Crime and Safety Surveys

Educational Longitudinal Survey

In 2002, the base year of NCES' Educational Longitudinal Survey (ELS), field representatives visited the approximately 750 schools attended by the 10th graders in the sample. This Facilities Checklist includes information about the safety and security of the school building and grounds. In addition, the student, parent, school administrator, and teacher components ask additional questions about school- and student-related safety and discipline issues. The Facilities Checklist covers such topics as:

• Safety and cleanliness in hallways, bathrooms, classrooms
• Monitoring of school and parking lots
• Condition of the neighborhood in which the school is located
• The school's security and safety practices

Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS)

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), conducted by NCES in 1987-88, 1990-91, 1993-1994, 1999-2000, 2003-04, 2007-2008 and 2011-12, collects data from about 13,000 public and private schools. The SASS contains many different components including school, district, and principal surveys. The principal components asks principals about their view of problems in their schools. This national survey includes questions about the extent to which principals think these are problems at their schools:

• Parental involvement
• Poverty
• Parental alcoholism
• Student apathy and absenteeism
• Student alcohol use, drug abuse, and weapons possession

The District Survey on Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools

The District Survey on Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools was a one-time national survey conducted in the 1990-91 school year. About 700 public elementary, secondary, and combined school district superintendents were asked about issues related to safety, discipline, and drug-use prevention in the schools in their districts. It covered such topics as:

• The district's drug use education program/activities
• The nature of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use education
• The extent to which various organizations in their districts provide assistance to promote safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools
• Disciplinary actions taken in their districts for disruptive behavior or student alcohol and drug use, possession, or sales

Teacher Survey on Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools

The Teacher Survey on Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools was a one-time national survey of teachers' perspectives on issues related to safety, discipline, and drug use prevention in public elementary and secondary schools during the 1990-91 school year. A national sample of 1,350 public school teachers responded to questions concerning the extent of discipline problems within schools and the nature and effectiveness of current policies and drug education programs. Specific topics covered included:

• The nature and extent of disciplinary problems in their schools
• The nature of their schools' discipline and alcohol, drug, and tobacco policies
• Perceived effectiveness of their schools' programs and policies regarding discipline and drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention
• The nature and extent of teacher training on their schools' discipline programs and policies
• Factors limiting their ability to maintain order and discipline
• Victimization (physical attack, threat of injury, verbal abuse) and perceived safety at school

Misc. Publications

• Violence and Discipline Problems in U.S. Public Schools: 1996-97
• What are the Most Serious Problems in Schools? (1993)
• 1996–97 Principal/School Disciplinarian Survey on School Violence Questionnaire (26 KB)
• 1990–91 Principal Survey on Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools (154 KB)