Breadcrumb
- Federal Resources
Federal Resources
Weather Alerts
Regular updates and alerts from the National Weather Service.
21st Century Community Learning Centers
This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low performing schools. The program: helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.
Action Guide for Emergency Management at Institutions of Higher Education
This guide has been developed to give higher education institutions a useful resource in the field of emergency management.
A Personal Perspective on Cyberbullying
This blog entry, written by a Department of Education intern, discusses the author’s personal experience with cyberbullying and her undergraduate research on states’ implementation of cyberbullying policy and the impact on students and rates of cyberbullying. Learn more.
Addressing and Preventing Sexual Assault on Campus
This blog post from the Department of Education discusses the issue of sexual assault on college campuses and the damaging effects of sexual assault for victims and communities. The post also describes key elements of sexual assault prevention campaigns and provides links to resources from the Department of Justice created to aid in campus sexual assault prevention efforts.
A Guide to School Vulnerability Assessment Key: Principles for Safe Schools
This guide is a companion piece to the Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities (above). It emphasizes a valuable part of emergency management planning—ongoing vulnerability assessment—and is intended to assist schools with the selection and implementation of an effective vulnerability assessment tool.
AskArne Video Interview Series: Free from Fear
The #AskArnie video series features Secretary Arne Duncan discussing current hot topics in education today. The first episode, titled “Free from Fear,” focuses on gun violence, school safety, and the multiple factors that influence student achievement.
Analysis of State Bullying Laws and Policies, 2011
This report published by The Department of Education addresses current (2011) anti-bullying laws and anti-bullying policies that have been created as models for schools.
Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool
Developed by the Department of Education, college applicants and their families can use this tool to access campus crime statistics for colleges and universities.
Bullying at Colleges and Universities
This publication from the Department of Education’s Higher Education Center highlights the prevalence of bullying within college-age youth and the policies and programs universities are putting in place to combat it.
Dear Colleagues Letter: Reducing Gender-Based Violence
A Dear Colleagues letter, released by the Department of Education during a White House event on teen dating violence prevention, calls on state school chiefs to take immediate action to reduce gender-based violence in schools. Accompanying the letter was the “What Schools Can Do” toolkit, which outlines simple actions that communities can take to reduce gender-based violence, as well as available resources.
Emergency Planning for Schools
This website, Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS), provides information that can help school leaders plan for any emergency, including natural disasters, violent incidents and terrorist acts.
Domestic, Dating, and Sexual Violence: Resources and a Call to Action
The fight against sexual violence on college campuses is gaining momentum with the growth of many new programs and initiatives that increase awareness, educate students, and increase pressure on universities to re-evaluate sexual misconduct policies. This blog post outlines federal and local efforts to prevent domestic, dating, and sexual violence, and provides resources that can assist schools and communities in their efforts to build safe and healthy learning environments.
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools offers research-based practices designed to assist school communities identify these warning signs early and develop prevention, intervention and crisis response plans.
Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention
The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse & Violence Prevention is designed to help college and community leaders develop, implement, and evaluate programs and policies to reduce student problems related to alcohol and other drug use and interpersonal violence.
Internet Safety
This site, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology, includes a consolidated list of federal links providing information on internet safety for children and youth.
Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2011
The Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics and the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics' report, “Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2011,” examines crimes occurring in school and presents data on school safety.
Key Policy Letters from the Education Secretary and Deputy Secretary
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued a letter to public school districts about LGBT bullying. He specifically states that GSAs are protected under the 1984 Equal Access Act, which protects student-initiated groups.
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) administers, coordinates, and recommends policy for improving quality and excellence of programs and activities related to youth safety and drug prevention.
Prevalence and Implementation Fidelity of Research-Based Prevention Programs in Public Schools
This report from the Study of the Implementation of Research-Based Programs to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse and School Crime offers the following information which can be applied to gang prevention efforts: collecting background information on substance abuse and school crime, identifying research-based programs and practices, using data collection instruments, developing implementation fidelity measures, and collecting, processing, and analyzing data.
Promise Neighborhoods
To address the challenges faced by students living in communities of concentrated poverty, Promise Neighborhoods grantees and their partner organizations will plan to provide services from early learning to college and career, including programs to improve the health, safety, and stability of neighborhoods, and boost family engagement in student learning.
Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online Educational Services: Requirements and Best Practices
The Department of Education's Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) has released new guidance to help school systems and educators interpret and understand the major laws and best practices protecting student privacy while using online educational services. The guidance also urges schools to go beyond compliance and implement best practices when outsourcing school functions using online educational services, such as mobile applications and computer software.
School Based Student Drug Testing Programs
This is a comprehensive site offering resources, publications, research findings, best practices, and guidance on policy design and development. The site is designed to meet the needs of a range of audiences, from students and parents interested in learning more about program goals to educators and administrators involved in program management. Random student drug testing is an effective prevention tool for discouraging drug use among a very vulnerable population. It can help identify substance users early, before a drug dependency begins, as well as students with a dependency so that they may be referred to appropriate treatment. Random testing also promotes a safer, healthier learning environment.
The Challenge
A principal vehicle by which OSDFS communicates with the field, and provides information on research-based activities, best practices, and other information related to effective drug abuse and violence prevention strategies.
Tips for Helping Students Recovering from Traumatic Events
This brochure, which is based on discussions with some three dozen experts who work with students, provides practical information for parents and students who are coping with the aftermath of a natural disaster, as well as teachers, coaches, school administrators and others who are helping those affected.