The standard is a ratio of violent incidents to enrollment in a school and is determined by the number and type of incidents. Each incident is given a weighting based on the seriousness of the incident. The weightings are added. The result is then divided by enrollment. This yields a numerical index of school violence.

A school is considered “persistently dangerous” if for two consecutive years, it has either:

• A School Violence Index (SVI) of 1.5 (This is approximately 6 incidents per 100 students, more or less depending on the seriousness of the incidents.)

OR

• At least 60 serious incidents and an SVI of at least .50.

Eight of the 19 “persistently dangerous” schools are newly named this year; 11 remain from last year. The list of schools is attached.

A total of 16 schools were removed this year from the list of “persistently dangerous” schools, issued last year, because they reported fewer serious incidents. That list is also attached.

The other 49 states last year reported a total of 21 schools as “persistently dangerous.” States set their own criteria for identifying schools.

All schools designated as “persistently dangerous” must provide school choice to students where transfer options exist. Each school also receives financial support and technical assistance to help improve school safety. School districts must also submit to the State Education Department for approval an Incident Reduction Plan for each school to show the specific steps that the district will take to reduce the number of violent incidents and improve safety at the school. Staff from the New York State Center for School Safety and Regional School Support Centers also provide help to each school to improve safety.

A total of 35 schools reported 2006-2007 data that indicated they might be eligible for the list of “persistently dangerous” schools. They were asked to submit 2007-2008 data. Those data were evaluated, and 6 new schools were designated “persistently dangerous.”  Two other schools were designated based on State Education Department site visits and review of previously submitted data.

Schools that have been successful in creating a safer environment for students have adopted one or more of the following strategies:

• Develop and equitably enforce the district code of conduct.
• Develop safety plans and building response plans to deal with serious situations as well as conduct drills and exercises to increase preparedness.
• Personalize the school environment to allow students opportunity for personal growth through close support from adult mentors and guides.
• Analyze data to provide information regarding areas of concern that may call for intervention.

Commissioner Mills also announced that the State Education Department is taking the following actions to ensure accuracy in reporting of violent and disruptive incidents:

• Monitoring and auditing of schools is ongoing. During the past year, the State Education Department conducted site visits to 50 schools. The monitoring and site visits will continue this year.

• Schools selected for site visits will include schools with data discrepancies that require clarification, schools close to the threshold for identification, schools that reported a large reduction in incidents, schools that reported zero incidents, and schools where staff or community members have alleged that improprieties exist.

• The purpose of the monitoring and site visits is to:

- Review violent and disruptive incident data reported by selected school districts,
- Provide technical assistance that will improve data reports for the fall,
- Identify what additional professional development is needed, and
- Identify further actions that can improve our reporting system.

• If as a result of the monitoring, any schools have underreported and should be on the list of “persistently dangerous,” they are added.

• The State Education Department created a single, uniform training program and has provided extensive in-person regional training to school districts all over the state. Last year, staff from virtually all school districts and charter schools were trained. Training sessions for school administrators are continuing now.

• Training covers the rules for reporting, answers questions about specific incidents, and explains how to make schools safer.

• Extensive explanatory materials are available on the web. Web-based training and written Question and Answer documents provide guidance that is regularly updated as new questions or issues arise.

• Districts report electronically, and the Department has streamlined Incident Reports to make them more user-friendly. Districts receive advice on web-based software to use for easier reporting.

 

 

Persistently Dangerous Schools
2008-09

Persistently Dangerous Schools added this Year (8)
School Name		School District		Year Designated
Marta Valle Secondary School		NYC Geographic District #1		2008-09
Middle School for Academic and Social Excellence		NYC Geographic District #17		2008-09
MS 246 Crossroads School		NYC Geographic District #3		2008-09
PS 35 Stephen Decatur		NYC Geographic District #16		2008-09
PS/IS 25 So. Richmond HS		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2008-09
Tito Puento Education Complex		NYC Geographic District #4		2008-09
Schenectady HS		Schenectady CSD		2008-09
Little Flower School		Little Flower UFSD		2008-09
Persistently Dangerous Schools Carried Over from Previous Years (11)
School Name		School District		Year Designated
PS 94		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
PS 169 Robert F. Kennedy School		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
School 723		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
PS 140		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
P 368		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
PS 9 Walter Reed School		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
PS 12 Lewis and Clark School		NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
PS 14-Cornelius Vanderbilt School		NYC Geographic District #31		2007-08
JHS 44 William J. O’Shea		NYC Geographic District #3		2007-08
Powell Middle School for Law and Social Justice		NYC Geographic District #5		2007-08
Berkshire  Junior-Senior HS		Berkshire UFSD		2006-07
Persistently Dangerous Schools Successfully Petitioning to be Removed from the List (16)
School Name	School District		Year First Designated
PS 811m-Mickey Mantle School	NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
PS 17	NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
JM Rapport School for Career Development	NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
PS/MS 36	NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
Queens School for Career Development 752	NYC Special Schools-District # 75		2007-08
NYC GENERAL EDUCATION
American Sign Language & English School	NYC Geographic District #2		2007-08
South Bronx Academy for Applied Media	NYC Geographic District #7		2007-08
Academy of Public Relations	NYC Geographic District #7		2007-08
PS 399	NYC Geographic District #10		2007-08
MS 571	NYC Geographic District #13		2007-08
MS 2	NYC Geographic District #17		2007-08
Samuel J. Tilden High School	NYC Geographic District #18		2007-08
PS 90 Edna Cohen School	NYC Geographic District #21		2007-08
Jamaica High School	NYC Geographic District #28		2007-08
IS 49 Bertha A. Dreyfus	NYC Geographic District #31		2007-08
REST OF STATE
Roberto  Clemente School 8	Rochester CSD		2007-08