US teacher survey highlights the impact of school safety on student achievement and educator retention

A national survey conducted by CENTEGIX in the United States has provided insights into school safety, highlighting its effects on student achievement, instructional time, and educator retention. 

The 2024 National Educator Survey gathered responses from 530 K-12 educators and administrators, focusing on the role that safety concerns play in the educational environment.

According to the survey, 80% of respondents regularly consider their own physical safety while at work, and 84% believe that school safety directly impacts student achievement. This data suggests that a secure learning environment is essential for effective education.

The survey also revealed the influence of safety concerns on educator retention and recruitment. It found that 77% of educators and administrators believe that school safety significantly affects staff retention. Furthermore, 45% of respondents have considered leaving their jobs due to feeling unsafe, and 57% reported knowing a colleague who left for the same reason.

Another key finding is the loss of instructional time due to safety incidents. Over half of the respondents (56%) reported losing two or more hours of instructional time each week, equating to more than nine school days annually. This reduction in instructional time can negatively impact student learning outcomes.

Despite these concerns, only 33% of educators feel that their school or district places a high priority on staff safety, indicating a gap between the level of concern among educators and the perceived efforts to address those concerns.

The survey also examined the methods used by educators to manage emergency situations. Nearly 40% of respondents reported using their personal mobile phones to request help during emergencies. However, the use of mobile phones in high-stress situations can be unreliable, and the survey found inconsistent notification and response times. Many respondents reported delays of 3-11 minutes for notification and 6-11 minutes for receiving help.

Ron Self, Director of Safety & Security at Little Rock School District, discussed the challenges associated with using mobile phones during emergencies. “With the mobile panic button app having a low adoption rate, concerns about privacy, and Wi-Fi issues, mobile phones were not able to protect our staff and students in a reliable manner. Implementing CrisisAlert led to an overwhelmingly positive response from staff and allowed us to nurture a culture of safety,” Self said.

Dr Roderick Sams, Chief Development Officer at CENTEGIX, commented on the importance of providing schools with the necessary tools to ensure safety. “The survey findings illustrate the wide-ranging impact of school safety on staff and students and the urgency of ensuring that our educators have the tools they need to feel confident and safe,” he said. “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 rapidly with assistance.”