New York: School Violence Prevention and Intervention

On July 24, 2000, Governor George E. Pataki signed legislation (Senate Bill 8236) entitled Project SAVE (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education), to enhance and promote safety and create a more effective learning environment within New York State's schools.

This project involves the entire community and identifies all family and school members as protagonists of the educational and safety process. It promotes training in different topics that ensure the normal and successful development of students.

Important elements are mentioned such as the minimum rules of behavior within the school, actions of teachers in the face of violent events, predictors of violence, teams of professionals to solve problems, student reference processes, strategies to improve school performance and behavior, bullying and problem-solving strategies.

All individuals applying for a teaching certificate in New York State.

• Discuss the trends and contributing factors of school violence.
• Identify risk factors and warning signs within a developmental and social context that relate to violence and troubling behaviors in children.
• List the statues, regulations and policies relating to a safe nonviolent school climate.
• Discuss behaviors and effective classroom management techniques and other supports that promote a nonviolent school climate and enhance learning, character education, citizenship and civility.
• Explain the roles and function of student support teams, their referral process, early interventions and strategies, and intensive/immediate interventions for students at risk of violence.
• Describe initiatives aimed at defining, identifying, intervening and preventing bullying in all its forms.
• Compare/contrast intervention techniques designed to address school violence situations.