Statewide Implementation of School Threat Assessment in Florida, 2020-2023 (ICPSR 39103)

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Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection

Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

The purpose of this study was to promote the practice of behavioral threat assessment and management as a school safety strategy, and to reduce the use of zero tolerance discipline and other school safety practices linked to harmful outcomes.

Study Design View help for Study Design

Case Data (DS1-3): Researchers compiled Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) case data on student threat assessments conducted in Florida Public Schools from the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years. These data were used to examine threat case characteristics/outcomes and to investigate associations between case characteristics and students' academic, disciplinary, and legal outcomes. Relevant case characteristics were measured at the school-level (e.g. percentage of low-income students, racial and ethnic composition, school size) and at the student level (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, family income).

Training Survey Data (DS4/5): The In-Person Training Survey Data and Online Training Survey Data were gathered from students, parents, and teachers who completed Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) programs. These programs introduced the basics of threat assessment. Pre- and post-training surveys were administered to determine how much participants learned in workshops and to measure participant attitudes toward using threat assessment in their schools.

Needs Assessment Survey Data (DS6): Researchers collected qualitative and quantitative data about stakeholder perceptions of the threat assessment process through a statewide survey. This survey assessed the needs and concerns of safety leads, with a focus on the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG).

Qualitative Data: Additional interviews were held with 30 district-level school stakeholders (division level safety specialists and schools threat assessment team members) to gather their perspectives on threat assessment training and implementation needs, barriers to implementation, and methods to mitigate barriers. Interviewees were selected to represent Florida's diversity of race/ethnicity, income level, and population density (urban, suburban, and rural). These qualitative data will not be archived through NACJD at ICPSR.

Sample View help for Sample

For case data from the 2020-21 school year (DS1), data were gathered from only those Florida public schools which voluntarily submitted data to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). The resulting data include 1,102 cases in 21 districts and 2 lab schools.

For case data from the 2021-22 school year (DS2/3), researchers obtained a more complete dataset which included 23,135 student threat assessments from 60 of Florida's 67 school districts and 6 specialty schools.

For the In-Person and Online Training Survey Data (DS4/5) the sample included 3,452 participants who participated in one of approximately 120 in-person professional development sessions, and 3,291 participants who completed an online professional development course.

The Needs Assessment Survey Data (DS6) was gathered from a sample of district safety specialists in all 67 Florida school districts, 6 lab schools, and 2 additional schools outside of districts.

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Universe View help for Universe

Florida public schools.

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Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)

Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection

Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

2020-21 Student-Level Case Data (DS1): Student-level data from the 2020-2021 school year describing specific school threat incidents. Variables describe student demographics (age, race, grade, presence of 504 plan or IEP, etc.), threat severity classification, threat outcomes and consequences (injuries, school placement changes, provision of services, disciplinary actions, legal consequences, etc.).

2021-22 School-Level Case Data (DS2): School-level data from the 2021-2022 school year including total number of threats, school demographics (percent economically disadvantaged students, disabled students, students by race/ethnicity, students per grade), and rates of disciplinary actions (suspensions, expulsions, physical restraints).

2021-22 Merged Student and State-Level Case Data (DS3): Includes merged student-level and school-level data. These data cover aforementioned items such as student demographics, threat severity classification, threat outcomes and consequences, school demographics, and rates of disciplinary actions.

In-Person/Online Training Survey Data (DS4/5): These datasets include data from participant surveyed before and after in-person and online CSTAG trainings. Variables record pre-existing knowledge, comprehension tests, and participant-reported outcomes and opinions on the training.

Needs Assessment Survey Data (DS6): These data consist of survey responses to a survey of training and implementation needs for threat assessment. The primarily coded variables describe the needs and concerns of school stakeholders, as well as descriptions of specific threat assessment incidents, the techniques used by respondents when responding, and the outcomes of said incidents.

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2026-07-29

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