| Violence in American schools has been on the increase in the past 15 years. The occurrence of school shootings has been a particularly graphic example of this violence that has played out on television. In response to this violence, schools have implemented violence prevention programs. These prevention programs have not been evaluated as to the efficacy of the program in relation to the effect on target populations, the appropriateness of the program, or the cost effectiveness of the prevention strategies. This project is a summary of a survey of school violence prevention programs in California schools. The survey was taken by school professionals, parents, and law enforcement currently providing prevention services in California schools. This paper is a summary of the results of the survey and of current literature. The survey results indicated that schools and school districts are not prepared in the event of a serious act of school violence (i.e., a school shooting). The conclusion indicates that information is not effectively communicated to staff, parents, and community partners and, in most situations, preventative programs are not in use. The information provided in this paper can be used as a foundation for future research and program development. |
