A national survey of of K-12 educators highlights the impacts school safety (or a lack thereof) has on staff recruitment and retention as well as student learning. The survey found that 80% of educators worry on a regular basis for their physical safety. Furthermore, only 33% feel as though their school or district prioritizes their safety, and 74% do not feel sufficiently supported by the school or district to manage security incidents. 

The survey shows how teachers feel about security’s impact on recruitment and retention, as 77% believe school security has a significant influence. 57% know an educator who left a job due to feeling unsafe, and 45% have left a job or have considered leaving a job themselves for the same reason. 

In addition to impacting staff, poor security also influences students. 84% of educators believe that school safety directly affects student success, and 83% state that students are concerned about their safety at school. Moreover, 56% report the loss of two or more instructional hours each week to address safety incidents. This is the equivalent of nine or more school days each year.