Effectiveness of School Violence Prevention Programs in Elementary Schools in the United States: A Systematic Review

Ie May Freeman (), Jenny Tellez and Anissa Jones
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Ie May Freeman: Division of Teacher Education, School of Education, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA 91702, USA
Jenny Tellez: Educational Leadership and Management Program, California School of Education, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA 92131, USA
Anissa Jones: Justin Garza High School, Central Unified School District, Fresno, CA 93723, USA

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: School violence remains a major concern for scholars, policymakers, and the public in the United States. Despite the implementation of various school violence prevention programs, information regarding their effectiveness in the United States is outdated and limited. This systematic review identified current elementary school programs that effectively reduce school violence in the United States and determined the types of elementary school violence prevention programs implemented, their effectiveness, and the types of tools used to enhance such programs. A qualitative methodological approach was employed, and four databases were searched. English articles published between 2012 and 2023 were selected. Furthermore, data involving elementary school education, school personnel, teachers, and children (5–12-year-old) in the United States were included in the thematic analysis. Results confirmed that the school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program effectively decreases violence, suspensions, office referrals, and disruptive behaviors, whereas positive action effectively reduces negative violent behaviors. Social–emotional learning (SEL) implementation also reduced behavioral issues. The findings of this study are relevant for guiding teachers, school administrators, policymakers, teacher education preparation programs, and health professionals in constructing evidence-based violence prevention programs with an added SEL component for elementary schools.

Keywords: school violence; prevention programs; elementary schools; bullying; aggression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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