School policies have the potential to dramatically affect substance use and violence at school. When creating new school policies, it is important to do five things:
Provide a rationale for the policies.
Make positive statements about the behaviors you expect from students and staff (e.g., be courteous to and respectful of others).
Coordinate with community policies and systems.
Include clear consequences for infractions, and rewards for those who abide by the policies.
Communicate policy information to students, school personnel, and families.
| Policies that Help to Promote a Safe School Environment |
| Eliminating smoking areas | Reducing crowding |
| Establishing a dress code | Issuing identification cards |
Increasing supervision throughout
the school building |
Hiring security personnel
Installing metal detectors |
| Installing adequate lighting |
Conducting random inspections |
Keep in mind that enforcement need not always be synonymous with punishment. Enforcement entails making sure that certain policies are implemented, offering rewards for those who abide by the rules or demonstrate exemplary behavior, and conveying the message that certain behaviors (e.g., name calling, substance use, fighting, carrying weapons) are wrong and will not be tolerated. Since most schools already have many of these policies in place, the review, revision, and enforcement of existing policies, rather than the creation of new ones, is likely to be a priority for your prevention plan.
