News on Student Behavior and Engagement

The Department of Education released new school climate surveys and a quick guide on making school climate improvements to help foster and sustain safe and supportive environments that are conducive to learning for all students. Download the ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) free of charge. Also, the Quick Guide on Making School Climate Improvements can be downloaded free of charge.

Researchers have found that when students miss days at school they have an increased risk for falling behind in school and engaging in problematic behavior. Also, these students with chronic absenteeism are at an increased risk for dropping out of school. Policymakers and educational researchers are trying to increase parental understanding of how absenteeism is detrimental to students. Researchers have found that services such as school-based health clinics that are targeted at families in poverty are related to lower rates of absenteeism.

Together, the White House and The U.S. Department of Education are launching two initiative that aim to raise awareness and combat chronic school absenteeism. The efforts will be directed at school professionals and parents and are going to encourage schools to build relationships with their students and children. Also, the initiative (Success Mentors Initiative) that focuses on schools, aims to help teachers support students by better monitoring their attendance and connecting them to other educational resources.

After years of schools trying to prevent marijuana use by students, schools are now struggling to develop policies that allow students to use prescribed medical marijuana at school. With many states legalizing the use of marijuana, many schools are now trying to navigate the laws and social norms while developing policies and procedures for allowing students to use their medically prescribed marijuana at school. Currently in Colorado, some schools have developed a policy that allows parents and professional caregivers to come to school to help administer medical marijuana to their child.

In Mississippi a law requires third-graders to take a high-stakes literacy test that could result in their retention. This report discusses the stressors of the test and the frustration of the students, parents, and schools of Mississippi.

The United States Department of Education recognizes Portland Public Schools efforts to get dropout students back into the classroom.

Schools in Baltimore, New York City, New Jersey, and North Carolina have used the Peer Group Connection mentorship program in order to increase student attendance, academic persistence, and graduation rates.

Collecting data on students in order to monitor their progress and identify those who are struggling.

School violence is a very important social issue worldwide. It poses a significant threat to the health, achievement and well-being of students. Although the most highly published incidents involve serious physical violence, less serious forms of physical aggression and psychological violence (including harassment, bullying and relational aggression) present far more prevalent and persistent problems.