Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS)

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), conducted by NCES in 1987-88 and 1990-91, and planned for 2003-04, collects data from about 66,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools. The SASS contains many different components including school, district, principal and teacher surveys. The teacher component asks teachers about their view of problems in their schools. This national survey includes questions about the extent to which teachers think these are problems at their schools:

• Physical conflicts among students;
• Disciplinary problems;
• Student alcohol use, drug abuse, and weapons possession;
• Parental involvement;
• Parental alcoholism and/or drug abuse; and
• Student apathy and absenteeism.