United We Stand

In recent years, our nation has endured a disturbing series of hate-motivated attacks. Oak Creek, Pittsburgh, El Paso, Poway, Orlando, Charleston, Atlanta, Buffalo, and more. Each one of these incidents has left innocent people dead and communities shattered. The cumulative impact of these manifestations tears at the soul of our Nation.

When ordinary Americans cannot freely participate in the basic activities of everyday life — like going to school, shopping at the grocery store, or praying at their house of worship — without the fear of being targeted and killed for who they are, our democracy — and the very fabric of our society — is at risk.

A Fact Sheet distributed at the United We Stand Summit outlined expectations for Federal agencies to respond to the President’s call. The Department of Education has two primary tasks: 1) Support educational authorities and educational institutions to improve their ability to prevent hate-based threats and bullying and recover from hate-based violence and 2) Enhance overall school safety and climate.

Free to Learn

The Department of Education is carrying out its United We Stand commitments under the new initiative “Free to Learn.” This will be a coordinated effort between the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Initiative to Enhance School Safety; Access to Mental Health Services; and Promote Positive, Inclusive School Climate.

Vision: All students learn and achieve their unique potential for success and thriving within schools that promote and ensure in-person and online safety, mental health, and positive school climates.

Call to Action

The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) is leading the effort on the call to action. There are three ways to participate. Click here to join the call to action and be part of future webinars and community of practice events.

Why Free to Learn

Safe and supportive schools are proven by decades of rigorous research to be among the very best places for young people to learn, develop, and thrive. Indeed, schools that foster a sense of safety and belonging among students and adults alike are also the most effective in terms of supporting academic success and social, emotional, and physical wellness and mental health. Recent advances in the science of learning and development affirm that when students learn and grow within school environments that foster a strong sense of relational trust, safety, and belonging, they are able to summon the cognitive, social, and emotional capacity that enables deep and powerful learning, the kind of learning that leads to success in school and postsecondary and career pursuits. Further, students, educators, and families overwhelmingly prioritize supportive and healthy learning environments that are free not only from physical violence but also any forms of discrimination, harassment, and hate — in person or online. There is near-universal demand for schools where all students, no matter who they are, are safe, valued, respected, and cared for. Further, schools that foster safety and belonging contribute positively toward addressing the nation’s youth mental health crisis along with providing engaging environments that facilitate and enhance student achievement.

Bullying is a serious safety problem facing students in the nation’s schools. As reported by the National Center for Education Statistics, millions of students regularly experience bullying in their schools, which substantially increases their risk for negative academic, social, emotional, and mental and physical health outcomes. Bullying also increases the risks to students of experiencing depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Sustained exposure to bullying and negative school climates can also lead to more serious anti-social behaviors, including frequent discipline issues, substance abuse, and aggressive behaviors inside and outside of school. Further, exclusionary discipline practices, which are enabled by negative school climates that can also engender a culture of bullying, lead to disproportionate suspensions and expulsions from school, particularly among students of color and students with disabilities, depriving them of productive and restorative learning opportunities and increasing the risk of exposure to the school-to-prison pipeline. Bullying and cyberbullying, exclusionary discipline, and unsafe and unsecure conditions in schools are correlated with negative school climates and mental health issues, resulting in an unnecessary and unsustainable waste of human potential that our country needs now and into the future.