Pennsylvania Education Officials Announce Efforts to Further Improve School Safety

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of the state's ongoing effort to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak and State Board of Education Chairman Joseph M. Torsella today announced the formation of a working group to examine school safety.

"The research is clear -- when students feel safe and supported in the classroom, academic achievement goes up," Zahorchak said. "We need to continue to explore ways to ensure that all of our schools provide learning environments where everyPennsylvania child can reach his or her full potential. It not only makes good sense, it is critical to our future."

Torsella said the working group will examine the issues and challenges affecting school safety and offer recommendations for a common-sense approach to bolstering existing safety efforts.

"We owe it to students, parents, teachers and taxpayers to make every school safe," Torsella said.

Members of the working group, who will be appointed in the next few weeks, will include teachers and principals, as well as representatives of school boards and the General Assembly.

Zahorchak anticipates the working group's recommendations will build on the department's efforts to promote a "wellness and resiliency" framework inPennsylvania's schools. That framework involves a collaboration of parents, schools, businesses and community members to help students overcome risk factors that hinder positive development.

"The resiliency concept is a simple yet powerful tool to enhance student achievement," Zahorchak said. "Just as the name implies, it helps at-risk students bounce back in the face of adversity and feel more connected and engaged in their schools and communities."

School safety efforts must involve a clear approach for disciplining students who put teachers or other students at risk, the secretary said, and that approach should set consistent rules and boundaries. At the same time, he added, the approach should involve teachers and staff inspiring students to achieve and helping those students feel connected to caring adults in the school environment.

Zahorchak and Torsella said that whilePennsylvania's public schools are overwhelmingly safe places to learn, such a comprehensive approach and review are logical steps toward building on existing efforts.

For more information onPennsylvania's education initiatives, visit www.pde.state.pa.us.

    CONTACT: Michael Race
    (717) 783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

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