Office of Safe and Supportive Schools

MASTER PLAN ALLIGNMENT

GOAL 4: All students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug free, and conducive to learning.

Mission

The mission of the Office of Safe and Supportive Schools is to promote healthy child development and supportive schools through the application of research-based drug abuse and violence prevention programs. This is accomplished through the implementation of a comprehensive strategy that includes policies; parent/family involvement; youth development and leadership; curriculum and instruction; professional development; and interventions services and supports. The office staff works to foster collaborative relationships among institutions, agencies, and communities.

The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools is involved in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a number of prevention and intervention strategies to increase the likelihood that school environments are safe and conducive to learning.

The Office currently has oversight responsibilities for the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Program, Community Schools, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Initiative, and the School District Strategies for Reducing Gangs and Violence funded through the Department of Labor.

INITIATIVES

Support of Policies

Parent/Family/Community Involvement

Curriculum and Instructional Support

Professional Development

Youth Leadership and Development

Intervention Services and Supports

COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY PLAN

The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools coordinated the development of a district wide comprehensive safety plan. The entire comprehensive safety plan, “Creating and Sustaining Environments to Support Teaching and Learning” can be found on the Baltimore City Public School System’s website: www.bcps.k12.md.us.

Vision and Mission

All students in Baltimore have a right to an appropriate education. An environment conducive to learning is critical to foster academic achievement of students.  The Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) is committed to creating safe and supportive learning environments and providing the best possible curricula and instruction. Student success is threatened when excellent instruction and effective classroom management, as well as partnerships with families, community residents, the faith community, service providers, businesses, community groups, and state and city governments are missing.  

This comprehensive school safety and climate Plan has been developed to fulfill the system’s commitment to ESEA Goal 4: All students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug-free, and conducive to learning. The comprehensive plan developed is in alignment with the approved BCPSS Master Plan and stems from a planning process began in October 2006 in response to the August 2006 corrective action required by the Maryland State Department of Education, “to develop a comprehensive safety plan.” In response to this corrective action, the BCPSS undertook a broad-based and inclusive process of reviewing, analyzing, improving, and implementing policies, practices, and programs that affect school safety, climate, and culture.  As described in this plan, the monitoring of the progress of these actions is ongoing.

This comprehensive Plan for creating safe and supportive learning environments supports the BCPSS vision and mission as environments conducive to learning are critical for accelerating academic achievement, affecting student and adult attitudes, enhancing skills for teaching and learning, and contributing to a culture of excellence.

Vision of BCPSS

Accelerating the academic achievement of all students, in partnership with the entire community, to ensure that students have the attitudes, skills, and proficiencies needed to succeed in college and in the 21st century global workforce.

Mission of BCPSS

To accelerate student progress through effective implementation of the Master Plan, focusing on quality instruction, managing systems efficiently, and sustaining a culture of excellence.

The comprehensive safety plan is developed in alignment with BCPSS Student Outcomes:

These outcomes are further delineated in the Objectives, Priorities, and Indicators section of the plan.

Plan Objectives and Priorities

System-wide objectives were developed based on a review of school and system data.  Data reviewed included school and system-level reports of suspensions including reason for suspension, time of day, student or students suspended, annual school climate surveys, and data on attendance and academic performance.  Focus groups and forums were held with students, staff, community residents, and services providers.

System-wide Objective 1:  By the end of SY 2007-2008, decrease the overall suspension rate by 10%; no school will have 2.5% of students suspended for dangerous or violent incidents; increase by 5% the positive responses to the perception of safety in school, going to and from school, and decrease by 5% the negative responses concerning classroom disruptions.

System-wide Objective 2:   Decrease absenteeism by 2% each year until the state target is reached.

System-wide Objective 3: By the end of SY 2007-2008, all schools will have created and will implement comprehensive school-based plans for creating safe and supportive learning environments for SY 2008-2009.

System-wide Objective 4: By the end of SY 2007-2008 the aggregate score of all students on the MSA will increase by at least 10 percentage points.

To support schools in creating environments that are conducive to teaching and learning, seven priority areas have been identified. These priority areas are linked to the objectives listed above and in the section of the plan entitled, Objectives, Priorities, and Indicators. Following are the priorities.

These priorities were decided upon through the review of data by BCPSS and other stakeholders and constitute those activities considered to be most important for creating positive school and learning climates and reducing violence in schools.