A recent survey found the large majority of K-12 staff believe school safety has a direct impact on student achievement.
CENTEGIX’s 2024 National Educator Survey Report surveyed 530 K-12 educators, school administrators, and district administrators on various school safety topics. It found 84% of respondents affirm school safety directly impacts student achievement and 83% feel their students are concerned for their safety while at school. The survey also revealed 56% of educators lose two or more hours of instructional time weekly due to emergency or safety incidents.
“These findings emphasize the urgent need for robust safety measures to foster environments where students can thrive academically and feel secure in their educational journey,” the survey urges.
How Do Educators Feel About Safety in Their Own Schools?
The survey also asked participants about their perceptions, concerns, and preferences regarding safety in their school districts. Approximately 80% said they think of their own physical safety while at work with 21% thinking of it most days and 30% thinking of it every day. Another 74% said they do not feel extremely supported by their employer to handle emergency situations, and 67% said they feel their school or district does not highly prioritize staff safety.
When asked which type of safety and security tools, protocols, and measures their school has in place, the most common were emergency drills (83%), access control at building entrances (73%), emergency communications (72%), video surveillance (67%), and safety resource officers (52%). See all types in the chart below.
Source: CENTEGIX’s National Educator Survey Report
Does School Safety Impact Staff Teacher Recruitment, Retention?
As schools across the U.S. continue to address ongoing teacher shortages, the survey also asked educators about their thoughts on how school safety impacts both recruitment and retention. Overall, 77% of respondents said school safety significantly impacts staff retention and recruitment.
RELATED: Teacher Shortages by State and How Schools Are Trying to Fix the Problem
Another 44% reported they have considered leaving (34%) or have left (11%) their job due to feeling unsafe in their work environment. An additional 57% said they know a colleague who has left their job due to feeling unsafe at work.
When asked about safety incidents in school, 25% said they were directly involved in one and 40% said they witnessed one.
What Are Barriers to Improved School Safety?
The survey also asked participants about barriers to establishing a safe school environment. Lack of funding (25%) was identified as the most significant barrier. Lack of leadership focus (14%), understaffing (12%), inadequate staff safety training (9%), and lack of adoption of school safety tools (8%) were also cited as barriers.
Educators were also asked to think about an occasion where they were involved in managing an incident or emergency and to identify the most critical factor that contributed to a positive outcome. Approximately 48% said their ability to get help from administrators, nurses, SROs, or specialists right away was the most critical factor. Another 29% said their ability to manage the incident directly using personal resources, such as a cell phone, was the most critical factor. Only 14% said they have never been involved in managing an incident/emergency in school.
How Do Teachers Initiate Requests for Help During an Emergency?
The educators were lastly asked about how they typically initiate requests for help or assistance during safety incidents on campus. The most common response was using a personal cell phone to call or text for help (28%). Other responses included:
- Calling the office and waiting for someone to answer (21%)
- Using a radio/walkie-talkie (15%)
- Using a work-provided cell phone to call or text for help (9%)
- Using a panic button (7%)
- Sending an email (6%)
- Involving another staff member (4%)
- Other (10%)
Participants were asked, on average, how long it takes to notify the appropriate personnel that help was needed and how long it takes for the appropriate personnel to respond. Approximately 43% reporting it takes three minutes or longer to notify someone they needed help, and 44% said it takes another six minutes or more for help to respond.
RELATED: Will Alyssa’s Law Become Federal Legislation?
The researchers note that the best outcomes occur “when help is notified immediately and is able to respond quickly.”
“The survey findings illustrate the wide-ranging impact of school safety on staff and students and the urgency of ensuring that our educators feel confident and safe and have the tools they need,” the study concludes. “By providing our schools with innovative and reliable safety technology and resources, we can ensure our teachers feel valued and can focus on supporting their students. Additionally, our students can prioritize their education, and ultimately districts can set them up for future success.”
