A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools
The author organizations and cosigners of A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools represent the educators and community partners who work day in and day out to keep our children safe, ensure their well-being, and promote learning. The partnership between our organizations seeks to reinforce the interdisciplinary, collaborative, and cohesive approach that is required to create and sustain genuinely safe, supportive schools that meet the needs of the whole child.
Our joint statement outlines evidence-based policies and practices for improving school safety and increasing access to mental health supports for children and youth. Efforts to improve school climate, safety, and learning are not separate endeavors and must be designed, funded, and implemented as a comprehensive school-wide approach. We urge policy leaders to support this guidance to shape meaningful policies that will genuinely equip America’s schools to educate and safeguard our children over the long term.
American School Counselor Association (ASCA): www.schoolcounselor.org
National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP): www.naesp.org
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): www.nasponline.org
National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO): www.nasro.org
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP): www.nassp.org
School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA): www.sswaa.org
National Organizations
Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention
American Association of School Administrators
American Camp Association, Inc.
American Council for School Social Work
American Dance Therapy Association
American School Health Association
Born This Way Foundation
Character Education Partnership
Child Mind Institute
Coalition for Community Schools
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, CASEL
Committee for Children
Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders
Council for Exceptional Children
Division-16, American Psychological Association
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
High Hope Educational Research Foundation
International School Psychology Association
Mental Health America
Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders
National Association of School Nurses
National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officials
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of State Directors of Special Education
National Center for School Engagement
National Education Association
National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
National Network of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
National Organizations for Youth Safety
National PTA
Pride Surveys
Safe and Civil Schools
Trainers of School Psychology
The Trevor Project
State Associations
Alabama School Counselor Association
Alaska School Counselor Association
Arizona Association of School Psychologists
Arizona School Counselors Association
Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania
California Association of School Counselors
California Association of School Social Workers
Colorado School Counselor Association
Colorado Society of School Psychologists
Connecticut Association of School Psychologists
Connecticut School Counselor Association
Delaware Association of School Psychologists
Florida Association of School Social Workers
Florida School Counselor Association
Georgia Association of School
Georgia Association of School Psychologists
Georgia School Counselors Association
Hawaii School Counselor Association
Idaho School Counselor Association
Idaho School Psychology Association
Illinois Association of School Social Workers
Illinois School Counselor Association
Illinois School Psychologists Association
Indiana Association of School Psychologists
Indiana School Counselor Association
Iowa School Counselor Association
Kentucky Association of Psychology in the Schools
Maine Association of School Psychology
Maine Counseling Association
Maine School Counselor Association
Maryland School Counselor Association
Massachusetts School Psychologist Association
Massachusetts School Counselors Association
Michigan School Counselor Association
Minnesota School Counselors Association
Minnesota School Psychologists Association
Missouri Association of School Psychologists
Missouri School Counselor Association
Montana School Counselor Association
Nebraska School Psychology Association
Nevada School Counselor Association
New Jersey Association of School Social Workers
New Jersey School Counselor Association
New Mexico School Counselor Association
New York Association of School Psychologists
New York State School Counselor Association
North Dakota School Counselor Association
Ohio School Psychologist Association
Oklahoma School Counselors Association
Oregon School Psychologists Association
Pennsylvania School Counselors Association
Rhode Island School Counselor Association
School Social Work Association of Arizona
School Social Workers Association of Missouri
School Social Workers in Arkansas
School Social Workers in Maryland
South Carolina Association of School Psychologists
South Carolina Association of School Social Workers
South Carolina School Counselor Association
South Dakota School Counselor Association
Tennessee School Counselor Association
Utah School Counselor Association
Vermont Association of School Psychologist
Virginia Academy of School Psychology
Virginia Association of Visiting Teachers/School Social Worker
Virginia School Counselor Association
Wisconsin School Counselor Association
Wisconsin School Social Workers Association
Individuals
Howard Adelman, PhD
George Bear, PhD
Dewey Cornell, PhD
Maurice Elias, PhD
Michael Furlong, PhD, NCSP
Shane Jimerson, PhD, NCSP
Amanda B. Nickerson, PhD
David Osher, PhD
William Pfohl, PhD, NCSP
Sue Swearer, PhD
Kathy Cowan, Director of Communications, kcowan@naspweb.org
Eric Rossen, Director of Professional Development and Standards, erossen@naspweb.org
Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, Director of Government Relations, kvaillancourt@naspweb.org
Resources to Support Implementation
Policy Recommendations for Implementing the Framework
This resource outlines policy and practice recommendations to consider when developing comprehensive school safety action plans.
Assessing the Safety of the School Environment Using the Framework
This tool helps to assess the policies and practices represented in the framework, identify effective systems that need sustained effort, and components in need of change to better support school and student physical and psychological safety.
Considerations and Action Steps for Implementing the Framework
This supplemental guidance offers additional considerations and action steps to help school leaders implement comprehensive school safety efforts as outlined in the framework.
Related Resources
Framework Press Release
This press release introduces the release of the Framework for Safe and Successful Schools.
Effective School Staffing Model: Teaming School Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers
This joint statement from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) highlights how school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are essential components to the educational team.