A Vision for Safe, Welcoming Schools

Our memories of school, especially from childhood, tend to leave a lasting impact on our lives. Whether it is the friends we made, the teachers who inspired us, or the sense of freedom and joy we experienced during playtime, these memories shape our identities and influence our lives. We all carry with us these recollections of our school days, which serve as a testament to the importance of the educational environment in shaping our futures. (Ng’andu J, 2020)

This sentiment is not merely anecdotal; it is supported by research indicating that schools play a crucial role within our communities as centers for knowledge, health, and community well-being. Charisse Nixon, a developmental psychologist, underscores this in her TED Talk, “Thinking Across Boundaries – What Adolescents Need to Thrive,” emphasizing that meaningful relationships are fundamental to fostering resilience in young people. In essence, meaningful connections, relationships, and sense of purpose are essential for nurturing healthy individuals and communities.

Aligned with this understanding, the American Institute of Architects – Committee on Architecture for Education has embarked on a mission to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue aimed at envisioning a new generation of safe and welcoming schools, with children at the center of this discussion. This initiative began six years ago, in response to the escalating incidents of gun violence targeting schools. While agencies conduct ongoing research to comprehend the root causes of such violence (U.S. DOE, 2004), our focus has been on comprehensively understanding the issues and developing best practice guidelines for school architecture in promoting well-being of children within the school environment. (AIA-CAE, 2018)

Collaborative Efforts for Visionary Development

In 2018 and again in 2022, our AIA-CAE Knowledge Community organized national convenings bringing together architects, students, educators, administrators, lobbyists, legal experts, mental health providers, nonprofit leaders, and more. Our goal was to explore holistic approaches to addressing safety and security in school communities. By convening stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, we aimed to tackle essential questions regarding the imperative of ensuring every child’s right to flourish within and beyond the school setting. Without robust dialogue, there is a risk of implementing strategies that prioritize security at the expense of equity, justice, and inclusivity in school communities. Therefore, we advocate for engaging in nuanced discussions to inspire innovative research and community-led strategic planning.

What unifies experts across these conventions and workshops is the advocacy from student participants urging us to integrate their perspectives for more meaningful and lasting change. Our Safe and Welcoming Schools framework endeavors to center student voices in identifying the components of a supportive ecosystem that enables every child to thrive. (Kisner, 2024) In essence, meaningful student participation is crucial for testing ideas and ensuring inclusive practices in designing safe and welcoming school environments. By considering safety as an integral aspect of human flourishing rather than a competing priority, (Horne L., 2017) we aim to foster environments that support the holistic well-being of students.

Presently, the landscape of U.S. education is undergoing a paradigm shift from a singular focus on academic performance to viewing learning as a pathway to human flourishing for every individual. This shift is imperative, as empirical evidence suggests that prioritizing academic achievement at the expense of students’ emotional and physical well-being is untenable. Therefore, our investments must prioritize health, well-being, and holistic development at both the school and community levels. As we gather insights from various stakeholders, a recurring theme emerges – the importance of fostering a sense of belonging within school communities. This sense of belonging, characterized by being seen, heard, known, accepted, and connected to others, lies at the heart of creating safe and welcoming schools for the 21st century. Our definition of belonging, drawn from the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness, emphasizes connections to people, place, power, and purpose, underscoring the multifaceted nature of belonging.

Towards a Resilient Framework

With our mission to promote innovation and impact, we are transitioning from a violence prevention paradigm to a resiliency framework rooted in shared cultural values. This framework aims to proactively and strategically develop schools that prioritize care and support the well-being of children and communities. Emphasizing the importance of social networks within school campuses, we recognize that school architecture is not merely a physical container for activities but a vital space for nurturing children and fostering community well-being. Architecture possesses the power to shape human experiences, forge connections, and inspire meaningful interactions. Thus, architecture plays a pivotal role in creating safe, healthy, and inclusive environments that nurture the holistic development of every child.

We extend our gratitude to all participants in our summits and workshops for their valuable contributions to this discourse and the development of our forthcoming AIA-CAE summary report. Drawing inspiration from existing frameworks in education, psychology, architecture, and public health, we seek to develop a Safe and Welcoming Schools framework that addresses the multifaceted needs of students and communities. By leveraging these collective insights and experiences, we aspire to create environments that empower every child to thrive and flourish.