LIST OF SCHOOLS WITH MOST WEAPONS POSSESSION RELEASED

The State Education Department issued information today on possession or use of weapons in the schools. This information is being used as the basis for determining whether a school is "persistently dangerous" under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Data reported by schools show that possession or use of weapons in the highest incident schools has declined from 2001-02 to 2003-04 school year. As a result, no school in the State met the criteria for "persistently dangerous," which is defined as having a number of incidents of weapons possession or use that is equal to or greater than three percent of the school’s enrollment for two consecutive years.

Attached is information on schools that were identified as persistently dangerous last year or were in the highest incident group.

This year the State Education Department, based on directions from the Board of Regents, had expected to introduce new factors in making the determination of persistently dangerous schools. These factors were to include assault, sexual assault, and other violent incidents, in addition to weapons possession or use. However, significant inconsistencies in the data reported by schools have prevented the State Education Department from factoring these incidents into the identification of schools.

The Department will issue a report on the data inconsistencies and the need for better definitions of terms later in September. The Department is proposing changes in definitions of violent incidents used at the State and federal levels in order to ensure more consistent and accurate reporting and to create a new set of criteria for identification of persistently dangerous schools in the future.

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/deputy/Documents/04-05dangerouspressreleaseatt.htm

- 30 -