School safety impacts educator performance, instructional time, and retention

Key points:

Although 77 percent of educators and administrators say they believe school safety significantly impacts staff retention and recruitment, only 33 percent feel their school or district highly prioritizes staff safety, according to 2024 National Educators Survey Report of CENTEGIX.

Results from a national survey of 530 K-12 educators and administrators draw attention to the critical issue of school safety, including widespread concerns around staff safety, recruitment, retention, and their impact on student learning and well-being.

The survey results also highlight the importance of creating safe school environments that empower staff to be part of initiating a safety response protocol for any and all emergency situations.

Key findings of the report include:

• School safety directly affects student performance and well-being
  • 84 percent say school safety directly impacts student performance
  • 83 percent report that students have some level of concern about their safety while at school.
  • Fifty-six percent report losing two or more hours of instructional time each week (the equivalent of nine or more school days per year) to address emergency or safety incidents.
• School safety is a key factor in teacher retention and recruitment
  • 77 percent believe school safety significantly impacts staff retention and recruitment.
  • 45 percent have considered leaving their job or have left because they feel insecure
  • 57 percent know a colleague who has left their job because they felt insecure
• Personal safety and emergency preparedness are priorities for educators
  • 80 percent regularly think about their own physical safety when at work.
  • Only 33 percent perceive staff safety as a high priority for schools
  • 74 percent do not feel fully supported by their employer in managing emergency incidents

The survey also provided insight into the many resources educators use to handle emergency situations. Most prominent was cell phones, as nearly 40 percent reported using them to initiate requests for help. While using a cell phone may seem like the quickest and most reliable option, in many cases, when under pressure, operating a cell phone can create problems and underscore barriers. The best results occur when staff are notified immediately and can respond quickly. Survey results revealed large and inconsistent gaps in notification and response time, with an average of 3 to 11 minutes to notify emergency personnel (43 percent) and 6 to 11 minutes to receive a response (44 percent). Rapid response is critical in emergency situations.

“The survey results underscore the reality of concerns about school safety and its impact on student performance. Identifying the right security solution for your district can be challenging. My district detected problems immediately when staff relied on their personal cell phones,” said Ron Self, director of safety and security for the Little Rock School District.

“We know that safety is a top priority for our nation’s schools. The survey results illustrate the broad impact of school safety on staff and students and the urgency of ensuring our educators have the tools they need to feel safe and confident,” said Dr. Roderick Sams, a 20-year educator and administrator and current Chief Development Officer for CENTEGIX. “By providing schools with the most innovative and easy-to-use safety technology, we can empower them to get help if a situation can be resolved more quickly with assistance. Knowing that their administration supports them can ensure that our teachers and staff feel valued and can focus on instructing students. Additionally, our students can prioritize their education and ultimately, districts can set them up for future success.”

This press release Originally appeared online.

The eSchool Media staff covers educational technology in all its aspects, from legislation and litigation to best practices, lessons learned, and new products. First published in March 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information needed to help K-20 decision makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and universities and achieve their educational goals.

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