Abstract
Public school districts in Florida are required by law to cooperate with local law enforcement agencies to establish and assign one or more safe-school officers at each public school. Public school principals assume a significant role in the implementation of state policy measures and are responsible for providing safe school climates for students and staff (Coburn, 2005; Gawlik, 2015). However, principals' perceptions inform their individual interpretation of state policy measures, influencing the implementation process (Reid, 2017). This study utilized a cross-sectional survey to measure principals' perceptions of safe-school officers and their effect on facilitating safe school climates for students in public schools. The results of the study indicate there are statistically significant differences between principals' perceptions of safe school officers, in regards to principals who utilize formalized school-based policies or written documents outlining the role, responsibilities, and expectations of safe-school officers. The results also revealed statistically significant median differences between principals' opinions regarding the influence school resource officers and school safety officers have on engendering a safe school climate and the role and function of these officers. This study could generate insight into the perceived impact and limitations of new school safety provisions implemented to enhance school safety for students in Florida public schools.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2020
Semester
Summer
Advisor
Vitale, Thomas
Degree
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
College
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department
Educational Leadership and Higher Education
Degree Program
Educational Leadership; Executive Track
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0008247; DP0023601
URL
https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0023601
Language
English
Release Date
8-15-2021
Length of Campus-only Access
1 year
Access Status
Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)
STARS Citation
Steppi, Christina, "An Analysis of Central Florida Principals' Professional Perceptions Relative to Safe-School Officers in One Large Urban School District" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023. 298.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/298