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"Promising " Strategies for Schools:
Assessing Physical Design and Using Technology

WHAT ASSESSING PHYSICAL DESIGN AND USING TECHNOLOGY INVOLVE:
Preventing school violence by assessing physical design involves evaluating the safety and security of a school's campus and identifying any potential problems on that campus which might reduce the levels of safety and security offered its students, teachers, and staff. If appropriate, using technology, such as metal detectors or surveillance cameras, may be part of the actions suggested by an assessment of physical design in plans directed at improving the safety and security that exist.

WHY ASSESS PHYSICAL DESIGN AND USE TECHNOLOGY:
The setting in which learning is to take place must be as safe and secure as possible. Students, teachers, and staff should not have to worry about how safe and secure they are as they go about their daily routines. Threats from both outside and inside need to be eliminated so that everyone on a school's campus can pursue their activities without worry. By assessing the safety and security of a school and employing solutions to any threats to that safety and security, school officials are better able to provide settings which are conducive for learning.

HOW ASSESSING PHYSICAL DESIGN AND USING TECHNOLOGY ARE PURSUED:
Inspection of the physical design of a school is the first crucial step in this strategy. Oftentimes, this inspection is accomplished with the help of law enforcement professionals. Relying upon such expertise helps school officials identify problems and potential problems which otherwise might not be noticed by an untrained eye.

After an inspection is completed, a prevention plan can be developed. Such a plan tends to focus on controlling access to a school campus as well as maintaining control on it. Keeping trespassers off campus and minimizing opportunities for violence on campus are important goals in the plan. People as well as technology may be relied upon to carry out the plan. Continuous review and updating of the plan need to be done so that maximum safety and security can be maintained.

THE PROMISE OF ASSESSING PHYSICAL DESIGN AND USING TECHNOLOGY:
Preventing school violence through assessing physical design and, if necessary, using technology offers a strategy that enables school officials to provide safe and secure learning environments in which students can achieve and succeed. By enabling students, teachers, and staff to direct all of their attention and energy to the learning process rather than having to worry about how safe and secure they are, school officials are fulfilling a basic need that everyone on a school campus should be able to assume: that all necessary actions have been taken to ensure that the highest levels of safety and security are in place.