A SCHOOL SHOULD BE a safe place, and, historically, schools in the United States have been relatively safe. Over the past decade, however, many people have begun to question the safety of American schools. Several mass killings at schools have focused the nation's attention on school safety. Although such extreme episodes are rare, students and teachers across the country are targets of threats and bullying every day.

In the early 1990s, a rash of high-profile school shootings raised concerns about school violence, and researchers began to study the issue more closely. They found that schools are generally safe but that violence between students does occur on campuses nationwide. Although school deaths are extremely rare, everyday school violence such as fistfights and bullying is more common. Each year, more than 3 million crimes are committed in or near public schools. The crimes range from theft, vandalism, and fights without a...