Safe and Supportive Schools

Rose Hermodson Minnesota Department of Education

August 7, 2014

“Leading for educational excellence and equity. Every day for every one.”

Safe and Supportive Schools

Legislation Passes

•  Governor Dayton signed HF 826 (Chapter 160) into law on April 9, 2014.

•  Effective for the 2014-2015 school year. •  All school boards required to adopt a local district

and school student bullying policy that complies with the requirements of the new law.

•  Twenty-three member council to provide leadership.

•  School Safety Technical Assistance Center established.

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•  Establishing norms and standards for prevention, intervention and support around issues of prohibited conduct.

•  Advancing evidence-based policy and best practices to improve school climate.

•  Development and dissemination or resources and training for schools and communities.

•  Developing policies and procedures for services provided by the School Safety Technical Assistance Center.

Safe and Supportive Schools

Council Leadership Role

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•  To help districts and schools provide a safe and supportive learning environment.

•  Assist schools and districts in crafting their student anti-bullying policies.

•  To aid districts in resolving issues arising under the new policies.

•  To be a repository of best practice and research-based resources, activities and training materials.

•  Develop effective prevention strategies including how to deal with social media and cyber bullying.

•  Support school and district planning, schools recovering of incidents of violence and violence prevention education.

Safe and Supportive Schools

School Safety Technical Assistance Center

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State agencies: –  Education, Health, Human Rights, Human Services, Public

Safety, Corrections and Higher Education

State associations: –  Minnesota School Administrators, Association of Charter

Schools, School Boards Association, Elementary School Principal Association, Association of Secondary School Principals, and Education MN

Other members: –  Two from each group appointed by commissioner of education

– support personnel, parents and students –  Appointed by Public Safety – two local law enforcement –  Appointed by Judiciary – court personnel

Council Membership

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Council •  Letter sent to designated agencies and organization

requesting them to appoint council representatives.

•  Education commissioner initiated open appointment process for six seats (parents, students and support personnel).

•  Council established as of August 1, 2014.

•  First meeting of Council to be held by October 1, 2014.

Update on Work to Date

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Staffing

•  Center will be housed at MDE within the Safety, Health and Nutrition Division.

•  Center director will supervise and develop additional positions to assist with training, technical assistance and data reporting functions.

•  Interviews for director position are scheduled for July 24 and July 25.

•  Selection expected before first Council meeting.

Update on Work to Date

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Start up Staffing--- •  Project consultant for website and creating

framework for accessing technical assistance •  Youth Engagement Specialist

Ongoing Staffing--- •  Center Director •  Education Specialist

ü  Training, Evidence Based Practices ü Outreach and Support

•  Administrative Assistant

Next Steps

Staffing

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Support Activities •  To be presented at first Council meeting:

§  Q and A on legislation. §  History/Background on legislation. §  Why it matters (impact). §  What need to be done (action). §  Inventory of MDE programs.

Establish Goals •  Train and provide technical assistance to school

personnel, parents, students and community members.

•  Develop and disseminate tools, policies and models to cultivate safe schools.

Update on Work to Date

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Other •  MDE staff communicated with previous task

force members on work to date.

•  MDE staff develop Q & A. •  MDE staff doing needs assessment with

outreach to districts and schools seeking input. •  Presentations upon request by organizations

and education groups.

Update on Work to Date

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Collaboration and Values

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Center  Preven)on  

Preparedness  Response  Recovery  

 

Students  &  Parents  

MDE  &  Agencies  

Schools  &  Staff  

Community  

Values Honor the work of everyone involved in developing the legislation.

Quick access to relevant tools, training and processes. Build with sustainability in mind.

§  Tools (videos, case studies, books, etc.) §  Technical Assistance Processes §  Support §  Research §  Information §  Policies §  Training

Collaboration and Values

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Center  

Preven)on  

Preparedness  

Response  

Recovery  

Partnerships

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School  Center  

Preven)on  

Preparedness  

Response  

Recovery  

Safety  Center  (PS)  

Partnership between Departments of Education and Public Safety to address

all aspects of creating a positive and safe school climate.

MDE has applied for a federal grant to work with Public Safety to

support schools in developing and/or enhancing their Emergency

Operations Plans (EOP)

Model Policy •  Division staff reviewed national “Safe School

Climate” policies and other policies and drafted a model policy.

•  Being reviewed by MDE compliance staff to assure consistency with requirements in statute.

•  Policy to be presented to the Council for adoption.

Update on Work to Date

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Model Policy •  Outreach to stakeholders to review model

policy prior to presentation to Council for adoption and dissemination.

•  Will provide technical assistance to districts, if requested.

•  Currently accepting policies that school districts have adopted.

Update on Work to Date

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Building a Sustainable Infrastructure Stakeholders helping determine priorities, goals and activities.

Sustainable Infrastructure

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School  Safety  and  Technical  Assistance  

Center  Council   Sub  CommiDee(s)  

Students,    Parents,      Educators,      Community  Organiza)ons  &  Partners  

MDE  Staff  Work  Groups  to  Support  Council  Ini)a)ves  w      Safety       w    Interpersonal  Rela)onships  w    Teaching  &    Learning   w  Ins)tu)onal  Environment  

Supported  by    Department  of  Educa0on    SH&N  Division  and  Other  MDE  Divisions  

For Districts, Schools, Communities •  Technical assistance. •  Drafting of policies. •  Evidence-based workshops. •  Staff development and support. •  Program materials, publications. •  Conferences and workshops. •  Website, webinars. •  Facilitating networking among schools,

communities and agencies.

Options for Support

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For Students and Parents •  Developing skill sets to support safe, healthy

learning environments.

•  Develop understandings of evidence-based practices and strategies.

•  Accessing supportive materials and publications.

•  Facilitating networking among schools, communities and agencies.

•  Webinars, videos and other educational materials.

Options for Support

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Timeline August/September: §  Center director hired.

§  Council membership finalized.

§  First meeting of Council.

§  Development and adoption of model policy.

§  Council establishes priorities and direction.

2014 School Year §  Outreach to schools and

districts begins. §  Website developed.

§  Additional staff in place.

§  Processes and tools put in place for use by schools and communities.

§  Outreach to obtain stakeholder feedback.

§  Assess what’s working.

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Questions?

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Contact Information

Monica L. Herrera

Director

Safety, Health and Nutrition Division

Monica.herrera@state.mn.us

651 582-8266

How to be involved?

•  Sign up to receive center updates.

•  Provide input on needs and what works.

•  Support process in your school and community.

•  Be inclusive.