National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments provides a range of resources and expertise on emotional and physical safety, bullying, cyberbullying, substance use prevention, crisis response, and building trauma-sensitive schools.
In addition to focusing on the academics, many schools, colleges, and universities across the country are working to create safe and supportive learning environments. Positive school climate and conditions for learning contribute to improved test scores, attendance, grade promotion, and graduation rates. Efforts to improve school climate and safety can help reduce disciplinary incidents and violent behavior.
The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) offers information and technical assistance to states, districts, schools, institutions of higher learning, and communities focused on improving school climate and conditions for learning so that all students have the opportunity to realize academic success. It addresses a range of issues that affect school climate and conditions for learning, including trauma, mental health, bullying, discipline, violence prevention, and human trafficking.
Since 2010, via NCSSLE, AIR experts have assisted districts and schools with implementing targeted programmatic interventions, administering school climate surveys, training to address factors that affect school climate, and provided a range of resources. NCSSLE currently provides a multi-tiered system of support to 72 grantees made up of state and local education agencies across four grant programs. In addition, NCSSLE has developed and provided support on numerous high-profile products, including the School Climate Improvement Resource Package, the Trauma Sensitive Schools Training Package, Compendium of School Discipline Laws and Regulations for the 50 States, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Territories, and the U.S. Department of Education’s School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS). It also hosts popular Lessons from the Field, the Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Webinar Series, and much more.
NCSSLE is funded through 2026 by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools. Partners include the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL); Lux Consulting Group; the National Center for School Mental Health; Sanametrix; Silver Gate Group; Youth Catalytics; Dr. Abraham Wandersman and Dr. Catherine Bradshaw. NCSSLE also works with a Research to Practice Advisory Group made up of national experts.
