Handbook of School Violence and School Safety : From Research to Practice

Periodic, high-profile incidents of school violence both in the United States and around the world have understandably resulted in public demand for increased school safety. This demand has, in turn, led to school safety policies and practices that have raced ahead of empirical research. This situation is now changing. In both the United States and across the world a continuing flow of government-funded research studies now make it possible for schools and communities to implement school safety programs that are founded on sound scientific research. This 41-chapter handbook is the first attempt to comprehensively profile (on a worldwide basis) the emerging field of school violence and safety research and practice. It covers the full range of school violence from harassment and bullying to serious physical assault. It also examines existing school safety programs and the research and theories that guide them. Examinations of current issues and projections of future research and practice are embedded within the discussions. In short, it helps map the boundaries of this rapidly growing, multidisciplinary field of study. Key features of this important new book include: ? Balance of Breadth and Depth? Coverage includes 41 chapters that provide an in-depth profile of the following aspects of school violence and school safety: 1. foundations 2. assessment and measurement 3. prevention and intervention, and 4. implementation. ? Evidence-based Practice? Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to prevention and intervention, the focus throughout is on the application of evidence-based practice to those factors most commonly associated with school violence and safety. ? Implications for Practice? A critical component of each chapter is a summary table delineating the implications for practice of the foregoing research.