A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE: October 26, 2000	Contact:         Department of Education Melinda Ulloa (202) 205-8811 Department of Justice Gretchen Michael (202) 514-2007

SCHOOL VIOLENCE DROPS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR;
FEWER STUDENTS CARRYING WEAPONS TO SCHOOL

Related Press Release: Crimes in the Nation's Schools Declined in the 1990s

Overall school crime continues to drop, consistent with a declining rate of crime against students outside of school, according to the third Annual Report on School Safety, released today by the Departments of Education and Justice.

In addition, the findings show a steady and significant decline in the percentage of high school-aged students who reported carrying a weapon to school - seven percent in 1999, down from 12 percent in 1993.

"Communities around the country are demonstrating that prevention and intervention strategies that help keep our young people out of trouble are working," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "It is critical that we do all we can to identify young people who need our help, and then provide them with the necessary resources to achieve their full potential."

"If we create a schoolwide foundation that fosters positive discipline, academic success, as well as mental and emotional wellness," said U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley in the report's foreword, "we will be able to strike the right balance - as we must - between responding to early warning signs of violence, on the one hand, and unfairly stigmatizing children, on the other."

"This year's annual report reminds all of us to take certain key principles to heart, listening to those who work and learn in schools every day," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Frank Holleman. "Communities must implement locally tailored strategies focused on prevention, intervention, and accountability, as well as collaborate in new and creative ways to make sure our children are safe in our nation's schools."

The 75-page report contains sections on the nature and scope of school violence; including from the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative; information on school discipline policies, including suspension and expulsions; and resources on school safety and crime.

Highlights of the findings include:

• For students aged 12 to 18, overall school crime, including theft, rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault, decreased by nearly a third to 101 school-related crimes per 1,000 students in 1998, compared to 144 crimes per 1,000 in 1992.
• Violent deaths at school are extremely rare. Thirty-four violent deaths were reported in 1998-99, compared to the high of 49 deaths reported in 1995-96.
• Fewer students are carrying weapons or engaging in physical fights. In 1998-99, states and territories expelled 3,523 students for bringing a firearm to school, down from 5,724 in 1996-97.
• The percentage of students reporting the presence of street gangs at their schools dropped to 17 percent in 1999 down from 29 percent reported in 1995.
• Students are less likely to be victims of violent crimes at school than away from school - but many still feel unsafe in school. Racial and ethnic groups differ in their perceptions of safety in school with a larger percentage of black and Hispanic students than whites fearing attacks.