Communities Expect Schools to Be Proactive About Safety

Schools are more than places of instruction. Families entrust them with their children, employees expect safe working environments, and communities look to school leaders to establish clear standards of protection and accountability.

That trust cannot be taken for granted. In a 2025 Gallup survey, 41% of K–12 parents said they feared for their child’s physical safety at school—well above Gallup’s long-term average of 34%. Although this statistic addresses school safety broadly, it sends an important message: communities want more than reassurance. They want evidence that risks are being recognized and addressed.

Many schools are already taking preventive action. During the 2021–22 school year:

• 93% of public schools provided teachers and aides with safety-procedure training.

• 88% provided training on discipline policies involving issues such as bullying, cyberbullying, violence, or substance use.

• 87% provided training on recognizing student behaviors associated with potential safety or discipline concerns.

• 62% had a structured anonymous threat-reporting system, compared with 36% in 2009–10.

• 65% had a formal threat-assessment team.

These figures demonstrate a nationwide shift from reacting after an incident to identifying concerns earlier, training personnel, and creating clearer reporting pathways.

Research also shows why a safe and supportive culture matters. CDC data found that students who felt connected to their schools were less likely to miss school because they felt unsafe—5.9%, compared with 11% among students reporting low connectedness. They also reported lower rates of poor mental health, forced sexual experiences, and other serious risks.

Preventive action builds more than compliance. It strengthens confidence among students, families, employees, and community members.

For athletics departments, that means examining whether policies, training, reporting systems, supervision practices, and documentation truly address the unique environments in which athletic relationships develop.

A community should not have to assume that safeguards are working. Strong school leaders are prepared to demonstrate it.