Health & Safety

If students do not feel safe or their basic needs are not met, their ability to learn is diminished. OSPI supports students, schools, educators, and school districts in making schools a safe, healthy, and welcoming environment for all students. The sections included on this page include research, data, laws and policies, and other resources.

School Climate

School climate refers to the overall environment of a school’s social and educational culture. It is a measurement of the quality of school life for students, staff, families, and communities.

School Safety

OSPI provides statewide leadership, guidance, training, and support for educators. These pages contain information about a variety of school safety topics including: Comprehensive safety planning, school-based threat assessment, and harassment, intimidation, & bullying.

Mental, Social, & Behavioral Health

OSPI strives to foster an education system that encompasses the whole child. In Washington, suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens 15 to 19 years old. These pages contain information and resources about suicide prevention, social-emotional learning, substance use prevention and intervention, and more.

Sexual Violence Prevention

OSPI oversees the implementation of child sexual violence prevention legislation that was passed in 2018, commonly referred to as Erin’s Law. These pages provide information and resources for schools and communities about the prevention of various types of sexual abuse.

School Health & Nursing Services

These pages contain information about school health services, including preparing schools for the flu, immunization requirements, allergies, and more.

Workforce Secondary Traumatic Stress

This legislation acknowledges the toll STS has on educators and students, and focuses on the adoption of policy and procedures so that districts and schools can take meaningful steps in supporting their staff’s health and well-being.

COVID-19 Student Survey

This anonymous and voluntary survey was created as a needs assessment to help capture the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hope was that the results would help school leaders in their planning and student support programming (particularly for Fall 2021).

Healthy Youth Survey

The Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) is a statewide, collaborative effort to ask students voluntary questions every two years about their health risk measures. The data is used by local schools and the state to monitor the health status of youth and track progress on state and federal health-related goals.

Traffic Safety Education

The Office of Traffic Safety Education (TSE) at OSPI oversees all traffic safety programs that are administered by public school districts in Washington state.