Material Information

Cost:

Approximately $90 - $250 per participant, based on number of adults trained in the program. Cost includes all materials needed to implement the program (curriculum, manuals, Leadership Guides), an on-site four-hour staff implementation training, a two-hour leadership training, and a one-year license. Annual license renewals range from $250 - $3700, depending on school site support and licensing needs. Note: Cost information is subject to change. Confirm current costs with publisher.

Description:

This Research-Validated program aims to change school climate by reducing aggression, enhancing learning, and promoting prosocial behaviors. Principles underlying the PeaceBuilders curriculum, namely, Praise People, Give Up Put-Downs, Seek Wise People, Notice Hurts, Right Wrongs, and Help Others, are taught via a range of activities that can be infused into literature, social studies, math, and language arts. The program assists with the development and modification of school procedures and discipline codes. Materials include activity guides, leadership guides, support staff guides, and reproducible masters. Select program materials are available in Spanish.

Research

This study looked at the influence of the PeaceBuilders program in developing student social competence, peace building, and prosocial behaviors, and in reducing student aggression. The levels of each were measured by both teacher ratings and student self ratings. A total of 4,679 students in kindergarten through grade five (51 percent Hispanic) from eight elementary schools in two large districts with a high rate of suspensions and expulsions, were selected for the study. Schools were then selected to either be part of the PeaceBuilders program for both intervention years (PeaceBuilders Immediate) or to be instructed in the program only after the second year (PeaceBuilders Delayed) and to act as a control. Data were then collected at baseline, and then every six months after that for two years. Results showed that PBI students after six months rated significantly higher in social competence (kindergarten through grade two only), and significantly lower in aggression (grades three to five only) and displayed significantly greater peace-building behavior than PBD students. After one year all students were rated as significantly higher in social competence and lower in aggression then PBD students. At 18 months results were similar even though PBD students were then receiving the PB program. Flannery, D.J., Liau, A.K., Powell, K.E., Vesterdal, W., Vazsonyi, A.T., Guo, S., Atha, H. & Embry, D. (2003). Initial Behavior Outcomes for the PeaceBuilders Universal School-Based Violence Prevention Program. Developmental Psychology, 39 (2), 292-308.

This study tested the hypothesis that fewer students attend the school nurse for all reasons, all injuries and injuries caused by fights, at schools which had implemented the PeaceBuilders program than schools which had not. The study looked at the school nurse records at 9 selected schools for the years 1993-94 & 1994-95. Results displayed a significant decrease in all visits to the school nurse in intervention schools when compared to control schools. Intervention schools reported a 12.6 percent decrease in visits while control school visits remained constant. Similar significant findings were evident for injury-related visits. However the study did not reveal a decrease in reported fighting related injuries in intervention schools, although a marked increase was noted for control schools. Krug, E.G., Brener, N.D., Dahlberg, L.L., Ryan, G.W. & Powell, K.E. (1997). American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 13 (6), 459-463.

Reviewers' Notes

The PeaceBuilders program improves whole-school climate through the infusion of common principles and themes into subject areas and school procedure. Whole-school change requires whole-school involvement. Raising school community awareness about the need for change can often be the hardest and most crucial aspect for change.

Supplementary Materials

PeacePack for Teens   #7643