School crime, which can often involve violence or threats of violence (National Center for Education Statistics), can disrupt learning and negatively impact students, schools, and the broader community (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). School crime can include both student victimization and teacher victimization in the form of bullying, cyberbullying, violent deaths, school shootings, sexual violence, on-campus hate crime incidents, and nonfatal criminal victimization (U.S. Department of Education, Bureau of Justice Statistics). There is evidence that factors such as youth feeling connected to their schools, experiencing academic success, having positive relationships with teachers and other caring adults, and interacting with prosocial and nonviolent peers contribute to decreased aggressive behavior (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Considerations for Equitable Approaches: Data on school crime and discipline reflect differences in student experiences in U.S. public schools. Among K-12 students, sex, race, and sexual orientation were the most common basis for allegations of harassment and bullying (U.S. Department of Education). At postsecondary institutions, race, sexual orientation, and ethnicity were the three most frequently reported categories of bias motivating on-campus hate crimes (U.S. Department of Education, Bureau of Justice Statistics). When considering their overall enrollment, Black boys and girls, White boys, and boys of two or more races were overrepresented among K-12 students who were suspended or expelled. Students with disabilities were also overrepresented in discipline outcomes (U.S. Department of Education).