Report 2012-108 Recommendation 10 Responses

Report 2012-108: School Safety and Nondiscrimination Laws: Most Local Educational Agencies Do Not Evaluate the Effectiveness of Their Programs, and the State Should Exercise Stronger Leadership (Release Date: August 2013)

Recommendation #10 To: Sacramento City Unified School District

To ensure that it is effectively preventing and addressing incidents of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying in its schools, Sacramento City Unified should measure the effectiveness of its school safety programs at both the district and school site levels.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2016

During 2015/16, the Bullying Prevention Specialist (BPS) tracked the number of reports of suspected bullying submitted (72 total), number of consultations that were provided to students, parents, and staff (132 total), number of mediations provided (29 total), and all the training provided (25 trainings), including evaluations.

The BPS worked collaboratively with the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative, essentially integrating bullying prevention and SEL work together. A district wide survey was given to 5th grade students through our Social and Emotional Learning initiative (see SEL data). Students were surveyed regarding their safety, connectedness to school, and the six social and emotional skills (see attached SEL learning standards).

In partnership with Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), a school climate and bullying prevention survey is given each year to continue to track the progress of our original demonstration sites. The district will continue working with SCOE to utilize the data and integrate the assessment further into district practices.

The BPS partnered with the District Attorney's office to provide 45 - 60 minute #iSMART social media class presentations to a total of 438 Hiram Johnson 9th/10th graders and 313 Will C Wood 7th graders. The students completed a post-test that assessed their knowledge of definitions and what they learned. As an observer of several of these presentations and someone who read the post-surveys, the students were unaware of some of the definitions before the presentation; however, they were able to convey the definitions (ie. "sextortion") after the presentation.

The BPS also collaborates with the Sacramento Children's Home to provide an evidenced based 10 week "Stop and Think" curriculum to 3 - 5th graders and a 10-week "Too Good for Violence" curriculum for 6 - 12th graders at select schools. Both of these curricula come with a pre and post-test (sew eVIBE data report).

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2015

During 2014-2015 school year two measures were taken. A district wide survey was given to all 5th grade students through our Social and Emotional Learning initiative. Students were surveyed regarding their safety, connectedness to school, and social and emotional skills. In partnership with Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) a school climate and bullying prevention survey was given at two schools sites. The district will continue working with SCOE to refine this assessment and integrate assessment further into district practices.

- 5th grade district wide climate and culture survey (inclusive of school safety and bullying) completed in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Results indicate an improvement in "Sense of Belonging-School Connectedness" and an improvement in social and emotional skills (see attached 5th Grade Climate/Culture/SEL) (B)

- Two school sites, Pacific Elementary and Bowling Green McCoy Elementary, participated in the SCOE student survey. Rating scale was 1-4, with 1 being low or negative and 4 being positive or high. Prevalence of Bullying mean score was a 2.3 and Perceived Safety of School was a mean score of 3.1. (see attached of scores).

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented

Beyond the two school site surveys mentioned in its response, Sacramento City Unified did not respond to our request for additional information regarding its efforts to implement our recommendation at all school sites within the district.

1-Year Agency Response

One way we will measure the effectiveness of school safety programs is to look at the number of reports of suspected bullying forms received and the number of parent and staff trainings that were provided and compare the data between the school years of 2012/13 and 2013/14.

In 2012/13, there were 67 reports of suspected bullying submitted; but in 13/14, there were only 53 reports received.

In the 2012/13 period, there were 13 parent and staff trainings, but in the 2013/14 period, there were 27 trainings provided.

In addition, select schools implemented a 10-week eVibe Stop and Think and Too Good for Violence anti-bullying curriculum. Included in this program was a pre and post test to measure the effectiveness of the program. We are waiting to receive that data.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

Sacramento Unified provided examples of some metrics that were used to demonstrate the drop in bullying incidents; however, it did not provide any evidence to tie these results to any of its school safety programs. In addition, Sacramento Unified stated that it waiting to receive data to measure the effectiveness of one of its school safety programs. It expects to implement this recommendation in December 2014.

6-Month Agency Response

One way we will measure the effectiveness of school safety programs is to look at the number of reports of suspected bullying forms received and the number of parent and staff trainings that were provided and compare the data between September 2012 - February 2013 and September 2013 - February 2014.

From September 2012 - February 2013, there were 28 reports of suspected bullying submitted; but from September 2013 - February 2014, there were only 20 reports received.

In the 2012/13 period, there were 9 parent and staff trainings, but in the 2013/14 period, there were 18 trainings provided.

In addition, select schools have implemented a 10-week eVibe anti-bullying curriculum. Included in this program is a pre and post test to measure the effectiveness of the program.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

Sacramento City Unified's response provides data but does not indicate any analysis of that data to link its efforts to the level of incidents of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying that have occurred. As of August 20, 2014, Sacramento City Unified has not responded to our requests for the documentation that would support the analysis it asserts to have performed.

60-Day Agency Response

The most effective way to measure the effectiveness of school safety programs is to measure school climate at all SCUSD schools through the California Healthy Kids Survey. In order to make this useful though, participation rates need to be fairly high. We will be working this year to increase participation in this survey in order to better measure the effectiveness of our school safety programs.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

The district stated that it is currently working to increase participation in its California Healthy Kids Survey to better measure the effectiveness of its school safety programs. It plans on implementing this recommendation by 5/30/2014.

All Recommendations in 2012-108

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.