School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) 2018 Cognitive Interviews 2016

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) 2018
Cognitive Interviews 2016
Appendix H
SSOCS Questionnaire Items to be Cognitively Tested

OMB #1850-0803 v.171

September 2016

Conducted by:

Collected by:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

SCHOOL SURVEY ON CRIME AND SAFETY
PRINCIPAL QUESTIONNAIRE
2015–16 SCHOOL YEAR
This survey is designed to be completed by the principal or the person most knowledgeable
about school crime and policies to provide a safe environment at your school.

(Please correct any errors in name, address, and ZIP Code.)

THIS SURVEY HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY:
American Association of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
American School Counselors Association
Association for Middle Level Education
Association of American Educators
Council of Chief State School Officers
Education Northwest
National Association of State Boards of Education
National Association of Elementary School Principals

NOTICE

Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used,
in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law [Education Sciences
Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002) 20 U.S.C., § 9573]. Reports of the findings from the survey
will not identify participating districts, schools, or staff. Individual responses will be combined
with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

PLEASE RESPOND BY:
FORM

SSOCS-1

(9-12-2016)

National Association of School Resource Officers
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National PTA
National School Safety Center
School Safety Advocacy Council
UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools
National Association of School Psychologists
School Social Work Association of America

DEFINITIONS
The following words are bolded and marked by an asterisk (*) wherever they appear in the
questionnaire. Please use these definitions as you respond.
Arrest – the act of detaining in legal custody. An
"arrest" is the deprivation of a person's liberty by
legal authority in response to a criminal charge.
At school/at your school – activities happening
in school buildings, on school grounds, on school
buses, and at places that hold school-sponsored
events or activities. Unless otherwise specified,
this refers to normal school hours or to times
when school activities/events were in session.
Bullying – any unwanted aggressive behavior(s)
by another youth or group of youths that involves
an observed or perceived power imbalance and is
repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be
repeated. Bullying occurs among youth who are
not siblings or current dating partners.
Diagnostic assessment – an evaluation conducted
by a medical or mental health professional that
identifies whether an individual has one or more
medical and/or mental health diagnoses. This is in
contrast to an educational assessment, which does
not focus on clarifying a student’s diagnosis.
Firearm/explosive device – any weapon that is
designed to (or may readily be converted to) expel a
projectile by the action of an explosive. This includes
guns, bombs, grenades, mines, rockets, missiles, pipe
bombs, or similar devices designed to explode and
capable of causing bodily harm or property damage.
Gender identity – means one’s inner sense of one’s
own gender, which may or may not match the sex
assigned at birth. Different people choose to express
their gender identity differently. For some, gender
may be expressed through, for example, dress,
grooming, mannerisms, speech patterns, and social
interactions. Gender expression usually ranges
between masculine and feminine, and some
transgender people express their gender consistent
with how they identify internally, rather than in
accordance with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Harassment – harassing conduct may take many
forms, including verbal acts and name-calling, as
well as non-verbal behavior, such as graphic and
written statements, or conduct that is physically
threatening, harmful, or humiliating.
Mental health disorders – collectively, all
diagnosable mental disorders or health conditions
that are characterized by alterations in thinking,
mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof)
associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.

Mental health professionals – mental health
services are provided by several different
professions, each of which has its own training and
areas of expertise. The types of professionals who
may provide mental health services include
psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric/mental health
nurse practitioners, psychiatric/mental health nurses,
clinical social workers, and professional counselors.

Probation officer – sometimes referred to as
community supervision officers, supervises people
who have been placed on probation instead of sent
to prison. They work to ensure that the probationer
is not a danger to the community and to help in
their rehabilitation through frequent visits with the
probationer. Probation officers write reports that
detail each probationer’s treatment plan and their
progress since being put on probation. Most work
exclusively with either adults or juveniles.
Restorative circle – a formal mediation process
led by a facilitator that brings affected parties of a
problem together to explore what happened, reflect
on their roles, find a solution, and ultimately restore
harmony to individual relationships and the larger
community.
Sexual harassment – conduct that is unwelcome,
sexual in nature, and denies or limits a student’s
ability to participate in or benefit from a school’s
education program. All students, regardless of sex
or gender identity, can be victims of sexual
harassment, and the harasser and the victim can
be of the same sex. The conduct can be verbal,
nonverbal, or physical.
Sexual misconduct – any act, including, but not
limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written or
electronic communication or physical activity,
directed toward or with a student regardless of the
age of the student that is designed to establish a
romantic or sexual relationship with the student.
School staff have power over students by virtue of
their position; thus student-staff relationships are
not equal and students cannot be consenting
parties to romantic or sexual relationships.
Sexual orientation – means one’s emotional or
physical attraction to the same and/or opposite sex.
Trauma sensitivity – a trauma-sensitive school is
one in which all students feel safe, welcomed, and
supported and where addressing trauma’s impact
on learning on a school-wide basis is at the center
of its educational mission.
Treatment – a clinical service addressed at
lessening or eliminating the symptoms of a
disorder. In mental health, this may include
psychotherapy, medication treatment, and/or
counseling.
Violence – actual, attempted, or threatened fight
or assault.
Weapon – any instrument or object used with the
intent to threaten, injure, or kill. This includes lookalikes if they are used to threaten others.

FORM SSOCS-COGLAB (9-12-2016)

2

SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS:
For most questions, please mark the box that best reflects your school’s circumstances.
Please mark your response with an "X".
Some questions ask for counts or percents of items. Please place an "X" in the None box,
rather than leaving the item blank, if the number of such items at your school is zero.
Definitions are available for many terms on page 2. Defined terms are bolded and
marked with an asterisk (*) throughout the survey.
Please report for the 2015–16 school year where noted.
Please have this questionnaire filled out by the person most knowledgeable about school crime
and policies to provide a safe environment.

Paperwork Burden Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this voluntary
information collection is 1850-0761. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to
average 52 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources,
gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments
concerning the accuracy of the time estimate, suggestions for improving this collection, or comments or
concerns about the contents or the status of your individual submission of this questionnaire, please write
directly to: School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS), National Center for Education Statistics, 550 12th
Street, S.W., #4012, Washington, DC 20202.

FORM SSOCS-COGLAB (9-12-2016)

3

School Practices and Programs
1.

During the 2015–16 school year, was it a practice of your school to do the following?
If your school changed its practices during the school year, please answer regarding your most
recent practice.
NO
Check "Yes" or "No" on each line.
YES

a. Perform one or more random sweeps for contraband (e.g., drugs or weapons*),
including dog sniffs

b. Prohibit non-academic use of cell phones or smartphones during school
hours

2.

3.

2

1

2

Does your school have a written plan that describes procedures to be performed in the following
scenarios?
YES

NO

a.

Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes or tornadoes)

1

2

b.

Bomb threats or incidents

1

2

c.

Accidents (e.g., school bus or other vehicle accidents; injury during a
school-sponsored activity or trip)

1

2

d.

Suicide threat or incident

1

2

During the 2015–16 school year, did your school have any formal programs intended to prevent or
reduce violence* that included the following components for students?
If a program has multiple components, answer "Yes" for each that applies.
Check "Yes" or "No" on each line.
YES
NO

a.

Prevention curriculum, instruction, or training for students (e.g., conflict
resolution, anti-bullying*, dating violence* prevention)

b.

Behavioral or behavior modification intervention for students (including the use
of positive reinforcements)

1

2

1

2

c.

Social emotional learning (SEL) for students (e.g., social skills, anger
management, mindfulness)

1

2

d.

Individual mentoring/tutoring/coaching of students by adults

1

2

e.

Student involvement in peer mediation

1

2

f.

Student court to address student conduct problems or minor offenses

1

2

g.

Student involvement in restorative circles* (e.g., "peace circles,"
"talking circles," "conflict circles")

1

2

1

2

h. Programs to promote a sense of community/social interaction among students
4.

1

To the best of your knowledge, during the 2015–16 school year, were there any staff at
your school who legally carried a firearm* on school property?
Exclude School Resource Officers, other sworn law enforcement officers, or other security guards
or personnel who carry firearms.
1

Yes

2

No

*Please use the definition on page 2.
FORM SSOCS-COGLAB (9-12-2016)

4

School Security Staff
5.

During the 2015–16 school year, did your school have one or more school-based probation officers
located on school property?
1

Yes

2

No

School Mental Health Services
6.

During the 2015–16 school year, did your school have the ability to provide diagnostic assessment*
(e.g., screening, psychiatric assessment) to students for mental health disorders*?
Include services that were provided at school* as well as services provided through a
contract the school has with an outside provider.
1

➤

7.

2

Yes
No

➤

GO TO item 8 below.

Where were diagnostic assessment* services available to students from your school?
Check all that apply.
1
2

8.

At school*, by a school-employed or contracted mental health professional*
Outside of school, by a school-employed or contracted mental health professional*

During the 2015–16 school year, did your school have the ability to provide treatment* (e.g.,
psychotherapy, medication) to students for mental health disorders*?
Include services that were provided at school* as well as services provided through a contract
the school has with an outside provider.
1

➤

9.

2

Yes
No

➤

GO TO item 10 on page 6.

Where were treatment* services available to students from your school?
Check all that apply.
1
2

At school*, by a school-employed or contracted mental health professional*
Outside of school, by a school-employed or contracted mental health professional*

*Please use the definition on page 2.

FORM SSOCS-COGLAB (9-12-2016)

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Staff Training
10. During the 2015–16 school year, did your school or school district provide any of the following
for classroom teachers or aides?

Check "Yes" or "No" on each line.

YES

NO

a.

Training in classroom management for teachers

1

2

b.

Training in school-wide discipline policies and practices related
to violence*

1

2

c.

Training in recognizing early warning signs of students likely to exhibit
violent behavior

1

2

d. Training in recognizing signs of self-harm or suicidal tendencies

1

2

e.

1

2

Training in trauma sensitivity*

Number of Incidents
11. Please record the number of arrests* that occurred at your school during the 2015–16 school

year. Please include all arrests that occurred at school*, regardless of whether a student or nonstudent was arrested.
If none, please place an "X" in the None box.
Number of arrests
0

None

12. To the best of your knowledge, during the 2015–16 school year, have there been any incidents of
sexual misconduct* between a staff member at your school and a student at your school?

Report on misconduct between staff and students whether or not the incidents occurred at
school or away from school.
1
Yes
2

No

*Please use the definition on page 2.
FORM SSOCS-COGLAB (9-12-2016)

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Disciplinary Problems and Actions
13. To the best of your knowledge, how often do the following types of problems occur at your
school*?

Check one response on each line.
Happens
daily

Happens at Happens at
least once a least once a Happens on
occasion
week
month

Never
happens

a.

Student racial/ethnic tensions

1

2

3

4

5

b.

Student sexual harassment* of
other students

1

2

3

4

5

c.

Student harassment* of other
students based on sexual
orientation*

1

2

3

4

5

d.

Student harassment* of other
students based on gender
identity*

1

2

3

4

5

e.

Student harassment* of other
students based on religion

1

2

3

4

5

f.

Student harassment* of other
students based on disability

1

2

3

4

5

*Please use the definition on page 2.

FORM SSOCS-COGLAB (9-12-2016)

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