Ninth Grade Students’ Perception of School Safety in California and in Princeton Joint Unified School District: 2015-2017

All California students deserve to feel comfortable and secure at school. Perceptions of school safety are essential for learning, building friendships, and supporting emotional and physical health. However, the California average differs substantially from the best performing school district in school safety, among districts with data. The statewide average of 9th grade students who felt very safe at school during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years was 16%, far below the average in Princeton Joint Unified School District (Glenn County) where 53% of 9th grade students felt very safe. This gap between the California average and the best performing district suggests that we can do more to create nurturing school environments for all students.

Data on student behaviors, such as fighting or carrying a weapon, help further inform disparities in school safety. During the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, 11% of 9th graders were in physical fights, 2% carried a gun, and 6% carried a weapon other than a gun at school, though percentages varied by school district. By looking at student perceptions of school safety and behaviors that play a role in being safe, we can make informed decisions on policies and programs that support each child’s well-being.

Learn more about school safety »

Quick Tip: Find Data by School District

Elevate local issues such as school safety with school district-level data. Find your school district’s safety data on the Data by Region tab. Click into your county, select your school district, then choose the “Child and Youth Safety” radial button to customize a table into a compelling figure that expresses your concern in children’s well-being.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about School Safety. See links to the latest here.

Upcoming Webinar

Integrating ACEs Science in Pediatrics: Early Adopters Share Lessons from the Field
Thursday, October 17 at 8 am PST, hosted by 4CA and ACEs Connection

In 2017, California became the first state in the country to pass a law supporting universal screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the 5.3 million children in the state’s Medicaid program. Drs. Deirdre Bernard-Pearl, R.J. Gillespie and Ariane Marie-Mitchel will discuss how to transform an entire clinic or medical residency program for screening families for ACEs and offering them support. Learn more and Register.

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High Levels of Academic Motivation (Student Reported), by Grade Level: 2015-2017

Academic motivation is directly tied to educational outcomes and associated with positive behaviors in children. Schools with higher populations of academically motivated students reinforce individual academic success and contribute to a supportive school environment. Interestingly, student and teacher reports of students’ levels of academic motivation vary greatly. In California, about one-half of 7th graders, one-third of 9th graders, one-fourth of 11th graders, and one-fifth of students in non-traditional schools reported high levels of academic motivation during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years. In contrast, fewer than one in ten school staff members reported that nearly all students were motivated to learn at each of the middle school, high school, and non-traditional school levels.

Across the grade levels surveyed, greater percentages of girls reported high levels of academic motivation compared with boys. Also, greater percentages of students who were Asian or white reported high levels of academic motivation compared with students who were African American/black or multiracial. Comparisons are also available by parent education level, sexual orientation, and level of school connectedness and for counties and school districts.

Academic motivation is associated with a positive school climate. When students feel safe and connected to school, interact with caring staff, and participate meaningfully, they generally perform well academically and engage in healthy behaviors. By addressing factors related to school climate, like academic motivation, we strengthen the school community and support each child’s well-being.

Learn more about academic motivation »

Additional Resources

Engaging all school stakeholders – leaders, staff, students, families, and community members – is important to develop and maintain a shared understanding of a positive school climate and how it can be achieved. The Safe and Supportive Schools website, developed by WestEd for the California Department of Education, offers tools to support data-driven school climate improvement.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about School Safety and School Climate. See links to the latest here.

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Number of California Kindergartners with Permanent Medical and Personal Belief Exemptions: 2011-2019

Two notable immunization trends emerged with the passage of California’s vaccine law which took effect in July 2016. Under SB 277 parents can no longer cite personal beliefs as a reason to not vaccinate their children. Since then, immunization rates increased overall and reached a key threshold statewide. Additionally, the number of exemptions from immunizations for personal beliefs dropped while the number of exemptions for medical reasons increased.

Trend 1: The state has achieved herd immunity for the most contagious diseases, including measles. In 2019, 95% of California kindergartners were immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. However, 27 counties have not reached the 95% threshold, among counties with data.

Trend 2: The number of exemptions for personal beliefs dropped precipitously from a high in 2014 of 16,817, in accordance with the law. In contrast, exemptions for permanent medical reasons increased from 991 in 2014 to 4,812 in 2019.

Protecting individual children and our community of children from vaccine-preventable diseases leads to healthier lives and reduced health care costs. The 2016 policy change directly and immediately impacted immunization rates statewide, but local communities also require the same high level of immunization rates to maximize protection. Continued policy efforts can bring the same level of protection to all children.

Learn more about immunizations »

In the Legislature

On Monday, the governor signed Senate Bill 276, changing how medical exemptions are processed. It establishes an electronic, standardized, statewide medical exemption system by January 2021 and requires physicians to use this system when granting a medical exemption. Staff at the State Department of Public Health will review exemptions in the system to identify physicians with five or more submissions and schools with immunization rates under 95%.

Data in Action

Data can be more than just numbers. Along with Kidsdata News, we also share information on critical topics, from recent news to data findings on our Twitter. Follow us @Kidsdata. We’re here to answer any questions or partner to highlight key children’s health issues. Reach out to us: [email protected].

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about Immunizations and Prenatal Care. See links to the latest here.

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Child/Youth Death Rate, by Age and Cause: 2014-2016

Unintentional injuries were a leading cause of death for ages 1-24 overall in California from 2014-2016. The death of any young person is a tragedy, but deaths from unintentional injuries, or preventable injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents, drowning, and falls are particularly troubling. For children ages 1-4, the most common cause of unintentional injury-related death is drowning; for 5- to 24-year-olds, the most common cause is motor vehicle accidents. Since at least 1996, unintentional injuries have been the leading cause of death for youth ages 15-19.

The data reveal that preventable deaths do not discriminate. Unintentional injuries is the leading cause of death across all racial/ethnic groups, with the exception of African American youth, for whom homicide was the leading cause of death.

Protecting children and youth from unintentional injuries requires both a local and system-level approach, from addressing risk factors, to promoting awareness. Changes in public policies can help reduce risk factors associated with unintentional injuries such as implementing a graduated driver license program to age 21 (Assembly Bill 1267). We must spread awareness on how best to protect our children, especially when their leading cause of death is preventable.

Learn more about how California children and youth are faring »

Additional Resources

The California Coalition for Children’s Safety and Health offers safety tips and best practices on drowning prevention, bicycle safety, and more.

According to a recent Kidsdata survey, our most popular topic areas are: physical health; child care and education; and mental, emotional, or behavioral health. Whatever your interest, you can be the first to know about new and recently released data by signing up for customized data alerts. Select the topics, geographies, or demographic groups that interest you, and you will receive an email alert when data are released.

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Data have the power to transform the way we see the world, helping us identify health disparities and drive policy change. The Data in Action section of kidsdata.org provides tips and tools for creating data-driven change, as well as success stories of how the Kidsdata community is using data to support children’s health and well-being.

Resources
Learn how to leverage data to create meaningful change. Three helpful tools:

• Crafting a Message for Data-Driven Change: Communicate about children’s health issues with a compelling purpose and message
• Five Criteria for Good Data: Use these criteria to determine the best data to support your work
• Telling Your Best Data Story: Learn how to select the best visualization for your report, presentation, proposal or advocacy efforts

Success Stories
Data can be used to advocate for polices and legislation, assess community needs, strengthen grant proposals, and much more. Read examples of how the Kidsdata community is using data for action, from analyzing bills in the California Legislature to supporting county-wide initiatives and demonstrating the need for children’s health programs in local communities.

How are you using data for action? Share your story.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about Death and Dental Care. See links to the latest here.

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Sexually Transmitted Infections by Race/Ethnicity, 2015

Recent data show disparities in teen sexual health by race/ethnicity in California. Just over 34,000 youth aged 10 to 19 were diagnosed with Chlamydia in 2015. African-American youth were six times more likely to contract Chlamydia compared to White youth and 13 times more likely than Asian/Pacific Islander youth of the same age.

Being informed about sexual health is vital to teen’s overall well-being. Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) rarely show any symptoms, which if untreated may lead to infertility and other adverse health outcomes. When youth are informed about sexual health, they may be encouraged to practice safer sex or choose abstinence, lowering their risk of contracting STIs. Furthermore, creating conversations about consent has an important role, as does public health policies that encourage using confidentiality laws to protect teens. Efforts to improve teen sexual health in California should also include more opportunities for STI screenings among teens.

Learn more about teen sexual health in California »

Additional Resources

Love Matters is an online space for young adults around the world to openly talk and ask questions about reproductive health, safer sex and relationships.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about Teen Sexual Health. See links to the latest here.

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Learn more about California children’s living arrangements by visiting our re-designed Family Structure topic. New and updated data include expanded information about family demographics and housing situations:

• Households with and without children
• Dual-parent and single-parent households
• Cohabiting, same-sex and grandparent-led households
• Housing situation such as living in a friend’s home or motel

The first three sets of data are available for counties, cities, school districts, and legislative districts. The last set of data is available by race/ethnicity and other breakouts.

No matter the family configuration, having at least one reliable and supportive connection with an adult is associated with positive long-term emotional and physical health outcomes for children. A vulnerable population that may be at particular risk of lacking this connection are youth who do not live with parents or other relatives in a stable home environment. About 10 percent of California 7th graders in 2015-2017 did not live in their parents’ or other relatives’ home. Programs and policies that foster relationship development, from promoting responsible fatherhood to expanding home visiting programs, help ensure that all children have a safe and stable home environment.

Learn more about Family Structure »

Additional Resources

The Fred Rogers Center, a legacy of Mr. Rogers, provides research-based tools to capitalize on the power of simple interactions in caring relationships between children and caregivers.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about Family Structure and Intimate Partner Violence. See links to the latest here.

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5th Grade Students Who Are Overweight or Obese, 2018

The latest data from 2018 show that 41% of 5th graders in California were overweight or obese. Particularly troubling are the large race/ethnicity disparities, including 54% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and 49% of Hispanic/Latino 5th graders that were overweight or obese, as compared to fewer than 30% of their Asian American and white peers.

Consistent with these findings, the percentage of children who met the California Department of Education fitness standards also showed disparity by race/ethnicity. Fewer than 20% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino 5th graders met all fitness standards compared with 35% of Asian American and white students.

Reducing childhood obesity rates requires more than personal effort. Public policies are necessary to ensure equitable access to opportunities for physical activity in and out of school, and affordable healthful foods, among other factors. As the state continues to advance anti-obesity policies, we must ensure that these efforts effectively address racial/ethnic and other inequities, engage local communities in solutions, and utilize strategies that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

See policy recommendations to reduce overweight and obesity rates »

Additional Resources

Learn more about California’s approach to addressing childhood obesity.

Foundation News: Dr. Edward Schor to Retire

Edward Schor, MD, who for the past eight years has led work at the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health to promote children’s health in California and improve the system of care for children with special health care needs, will retire July 2. Read Dr. Schor’s reflections on the Foundation’s progress towards elevating the priority of children’s health and how to continue creating a system that works for children and families.

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about weight and physical fitness. See links to the latest here.

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Early in 2019, the Public Health Institute Survey Research Group conducted a survey to help the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health better serve the field and assess the impact of the Kidsdata program on improving children’s health and well-being. We are grateful to the 198 respondents who shared their opinions and comments. Your feedback will apprise our Foundation and inform Kidsdata’s future activities. Some key findings are below, and others will be shared in future issues of Kidsdata News. You can access the full report here.

Elevating the priority of children’s health
Over half of respondents use kidsdata.org for presentations, community planning and writing reports. More than four out of ten use it for grant proposals and evaluating community outcomes. Respondents also shared that kidsdata.org has helped with regional disaster planning, constituent outreach, training health professionals, and quality improvement projects.

Using data for action
Over one-third of respondents were from a non-profit or other organization and another one-third were from a state, county, or city agency. Nearly every respondent indicated that Kidsdata has increased public awareness of issues related to children’s health and well-being in California (99%). An educator shared, “Kidsdata allows me to advocate for positions in an informed way.”

Looking ahead
The Kidsdata staff are dedicated to supporting your data and information needs so that you can devote your efforts to shaping children’s environments and experience and thus maximizing their health and development. We hope these survey findings will help you learn new ways to make the most of kidsdata.org in your work on behalf of children. As always, if you have feedback, please share with us at [email protected].

Recently Released Data

We recently released data about gang involvement. See links to the latest here.

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Households with a High Housing Cost Burden: 2013-2017

California housing is among the most costly in the nation, so finding affordable housing is a significant challenge for many middle- and low-income families. In 2013-2017, an estimated 43% of California households were housing cost-burdened, meaning households spent at least 30% of income on housing.

As the state grapples with affordable housing, it is important to remember how it impacts children in California. A lack of affordable housing can lead to housing instability and crowded households, thus affecting a child’s social development and educational outcomes, from disrupting friendships and social support networks, to inconsistent school experiences and classroom instruction. Additionally, residential overcrowding has been linked to the prevalence of certain infectious diseases and psychological distress. Providing stable and quality housing is critical to positive health outcomes for children.

Learn more about housing affordability »

Additional Resources

A report from the Public Policy Institute of California looks at the future of California housing and provides recommendations to expand affordable housing and address homelessness.

Posted by kidsdata.org