Safe and Supportive School Climates Are Essential to Preventing Violence in Schools

Testimony to House Public Education Committee

Targeted and mass school violence is the “tip of the iceberg” of pain, despair, and isolation that many students in Texas deal with on a daily basis. To reduce school violence, the U.S. Secret Service calls for strategies that “create cultures and climates of safety, respect, and emotional support within schools.” The Texas Legislature should provide school districts with guidance and resources to implement strategies that create safe and supportive school climates in order to reduce the likelihood of youth violence and its underlying factors.

tip-of-the-iceberg-SQ.jpg