The Kentucky Education Association (KEA) is urging all Kentucky school employees, both certified and classified, to share their experiences in a safety and student behavior survey.
Following the passage and signing into law of Senate Bill 101, landmark legislation aimed at addressing assaults against educators, the KEA wants every public school teacher and school employee in Kentucky to take part in a new, anonymous School Behavior Support survey, designed to capture real-world data on school safety and student behavior.
According to the KEA, educator safety remains a pressing issue across the state. Since the 2021–22 school year, there have been more than 25,000 reported assaults against Kentucky school staff, and educators believe the true number is significantly higher. SB 101 establishes stronger reporting requirements and accountability measures, but legislation alone is not enough.
“Every educator has the right to feel safe at work. No one should ever fear being injured simply for doing their job,” KEA President Joel Wolford said. “SB 101 is an important step, but meaningful and lasting solutions require real data from the people experiencing these challenges every day.”
To help inform future legislative and policy solutions, KEA has launched its Student Behavior Support Survey (SBSS) and is inviting all certified and classified public school employees, KEA members and non-members alike, to participate. The survey is anonymous, takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and is being administered by independent researchers to ensure an unbiased report.
“Educators are on the front lines every day,” Wolford said. “This is our opportunity to collect the real data needed to turn concern into action, and to make sure future laws and policies truly protect the people who serve Kentucky’s students.”
The KEA explains why the survey matters:
- SB 101 highlights educator safety, including mandatory reporting of assaults.
- The survey will provide both qualitative and quantitative data on student behavior, workplace safety, and support systems in schools.
- Results will be shared publicly, without filters, helping policymakers, educators, and the public better understand what is happening inside Kentucky schools.
- The data will help drive future legislation and policy discussions focused on protecting educators and students.
The survey is available through April 27 at www.kea.org/survey.
(Photo courtesy of Kentucky Today)
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
