Understanding and Addressing Violence Against Educators in Schools
Introduction
The American Psychological Association (APA) and National Education Association (NEA) share deep and growing concerns about violence against educators. Occurrences of physical and verbal aggression and violence against educators can have a lasting impact on the safety of school communities and the well-being of educators and students. Both organizations continue to elevate the issue and, in response to the growing needs of students and educators, have developed resources and publications to address concerns about verbal and physical violence, educator retention, school climate, and educator and student safety and well-being.
This document synthesizes findings from two national surveys conducted by the APA’s Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel and educator safety information from the NEA. It also includes joint NEA–APA recommendations and resources to address violence.
The APA Task Force collaborated with NEA and other national organizations APA’s Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel also collaborated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Social Workers, and the School Social Work Association of America. Go to reference to survey teachers, administrators, school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other staff regarding their experiences with school violence before, during, and after COVID-19. Nearly 15,000 participants took part in the 2020–2021 academic year survey and nearly 12,000 participated in the 2022 survey, with participants hailing from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The NEA resources—drawn from educator interviews, NEA member surveys, and NEA’s School Gun Violence Prevention and Response Guide NEA partnered with the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to produce the guide. Go to reference released in 2024—highlight educator perspectives on school safety, school culture, educator safety, advocacy, and educator well-being. They include research and strategies to support the creation of safe, supportive, welcoming schools.
- 1 APA’s Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel also collaborated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Social Workers, and the School Social Work Association of America.
- 2 NEA partnered with the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to produce the guide.
Three themes emerged from a review of APA’s and NEA’s research and resources:
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How to keep educators safe;
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Methods to provide positive behavior supports and create safe school cultures; and
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Understanding the relationship between school violence and educator well-being and retention.
Why this Topic is Critical
Educators are instrumental to the academic, social, and emotional development of students. Their safety and well-being have important implications for the overall school community. Educators have expressed concerns in the following areas.
Frequency of Violence Against Educators
Violence against educators and school personnel was prevalent in the APA Task Force survey data. For example, most surveyed teachers (80 percent), school psychologists and social workers (63 percent), administrators (64 percent), and school staff (65 percent) reported they experienced at least one incident of verbal or threatening violence from students during the 2021–2022 academic year. Rates of physical violence were lower but still substantial: teachers (56 percent); school psychologists, social workers, and counselors (56 percent); administrators (43 percent); and staff (53 percent) reported at least one incident of physical violence from students (McMahon, Worrell, et al., 2024).
Although the pandemic helped to fuel many acts of disruptive and violent behavior toward educators, violence and aggression toward educators had already been significant before COVID-19 (Walker, 2021). National data from the APA Task Force on Classroom Violence Against Teachers (Espelage et al., 2013) survey from 2010 indicated that 80 percent of teachers surveyed reported experiencing some form of violence or aggression, with the majority experiencing violence from students (94 percent) followed by parents (37 percent) and colleagues (21 percent) (McMahon et al., 2014).
In an NEA 2024 survey of 3,655 educators, more than 50 percent of those working in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education reported being concerned with student behavior and mental health (SSRS, 2024).
Demanding Work Conditions
Findings from a 2023 Rand study, funded in part by the NEA, suggested that among educators, adverse working conditions—including feelings of insecurity at work and excessive workloads—posed significant psychological and physical safety concerns that have negatively impacted educator retention (Steiner, Woo, & Doan, 2023).
Whereas the majority of educators surveyed listed school safety as a top concern, more than 45 percent cited large classes and caseloads, job-related stress, and burnout as areas of workplace concern.
Whereas the majority of educators surveyed listed school safety as a top concern, more than 45 percent cited large classes and caseloads, job-related stress, and burnout as areas of workplace concern (SSRS, 2024).
Troubling Levels of Staff Turnover and Shortage
One-quarter of teachers intended to transfer schools, and 43 percent reported intentions to quit the teaching profession based on experiences with violence and concerns about school climate (McMahon, Swenski, et al., 2024).
Staff turnover has implications for student learning, educator morale, and general school functioning. According to a 2024 NEA member survey, 49 percent of respondents reported that unfulfilled job openings leading to more work for remaining staff was a big concern (SSRS, 2024).
