Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays fact sheet Schools and Youth: Know Your Facts

National Mental Health Association Back to School Fact Sheet: Bullying in Schools: Harassment Puts Gay Youth At Risk

California Research:

Safe Schools Research Brief 13: Understanding School Safety for Transgender Students
Research shows that transgender students often face unsafe school environments to a greater extent even than their lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) peers. In this research brief we report on prior studies and present new data about school safety for transgender students. - Click here to download the research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 12: Gender Non-conformity and School Safety: Documenting the problem and steps schools can take
This research brief documents that students in California report significant harassment at school because they do not conform to gender expectations and stereotypes. Such harassment is reported by many students, and is more often reported by students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The brief documents that gender non-conformity based harassment is more common in schools that lack inclusive anti-harassment policies, teacher intervention when harassment occurs, and curriculum focused on LGBT issues. - Click here to download the research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 11: School Safety for Middle School Students
Most of the research on student bullying and school safety focuses on high school students.  This research brief uses data from three middle schools in one school district in California to study school safety, school policies, and strategies for creating safer schools for middle school students. - Click here to download the research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 10: Understanding School Safety and the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity and Sexual Orientation
This research brief examines bias-motivated harassment and school safety for students of color and students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The results show that harassment and bullying of both kinds are often experienced by students of color and LGBT students; those who experience both kinds of harassment are particularly at risk. - Click here to download the research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 9: Understanding Differences Between Schools in Overall LGBT School Safety
We already know that school safety is associated with student well-being and academic achievement. However, while previous research has focused on individual students and factors that predict individual student safety, less is known about whether some schools are safer than others, and why. In this research brief, we draw from several data sources to examine differences across schools in safety for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students.   Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 8: Multiple Forms of Bias-Related Harassment at School
This research brief documents data showing  that students experience multiple forms of bullying or harassment. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-gender (LGBT) students report more bullying compared to heterosexual students. There are not strong differences based on race and ethnicity, but there are strong differences in bias-based bullying from middle school into high school. Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 7: School Safety and Academic Achievment
This research documents data showing that students in California report better academic outcomes when they feel safe at school – this result is particularly strong for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students.  School safety is linked to higher school grades as well as intentions to attend college. Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 6: School Safety for Students with LGBT Parents
This research brief explores if California's schools are safe for students whose parents are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT). Steps that schools can take to improve the climate for students with LGBT parents are discussed. Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 5: The Economic Cost of Bullying at school
Harassment at school based on sexual orientation is linked to risk behavior, poor grades, and emotional distress for students. These personal costs are clearly important to individual students, but what are the economic costs of harassment for the school system?  This research brief examines the economic costs of bullying against LGBT students. Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 4: LGBT Issues in the Curriculum Promotes School Safety
Does including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues in the curriculum promote safer school climates? Curriculum that includes attention to LGBT people and history has been controversial. Yet, some argue that such curriculum will promote feelings of safety at school among LGBT youth - some even argue that inclusive curriculum will make all students feel safer. Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 3: LGBT Student Safety: Steps Schools Can Take
This research brief shows the 5 steps schools can take to improve safety. Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 2: Harassment Based on Sexual Orientation and its Consequence
This research brief shows that every year over 200,000 students in California are harassed because they are gay or lesbian or someone thought they were. This harassment is linked to: weaker connections to school, higher levels of risk, and unsafe school climates.Click here to download this research brief

Safe Schools Research Brief 1: District Policies and Trainings
What is the state of school safety policy in California school districts? We conducted a survey of one-third of California's school districts and with that data created our first in a series of research briefs. Click here to download our first Safe Schools Research Brief: District Policies and Trainings.

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The Safe Place to Learn report was released in January 2004 by the California Safe Schools Coalition and the 4-H Center for Youth Development at UC Davis. The largest ever study of harassment in schools based on sexual orientation and gender identity shows the problem is widespread, dangerous and preventable.

Read the Safe Place to Learn report press release.
Download the full Safe Place to Learn report or the Summary Fact Sheet.

Read media coverage of the Safe Place to Learn report.
Join the California Safe Schools Coalition to hear about future research!

National Research:

GLSEN's 2003 National School Climate Survey finds "a direct relationship between in-school victimization, grade-point averages (GPAs) and the college aspirations of LGBT students."

Human Rights Watch report Hatred in the Hallways: Violence and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students in U.S. Schools

Washington Safe Schools Coalition report 83,000 Youth: Selected Findings of Eight Population-Based Studies

National Mental Health Association Anti-Gay Bullying Survey Results

Research from outside of California:

The Bullying Report: How are Washington State Schools Doing? This December 2003 report of the Safe Schools Coalition of Washington and the Washington State PTA surveyed school districts to document the extent of implementation of the state's Anti-Bullying Act. The law took effect in January 2003 and covers bias-motivated harassment, including harassment based on sexual orientation and gender.

Washington Safe Schools Coalition report They Don’t Even Know Me: Understanding Anti-Gay Harassment and Violence in Schools

The Basics: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

American Psychological Association: Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel

National Mental Health Association: "What Does Gay Mean?" How to Talk with Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice

Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: Commonly Asked Questions and Answers