Once your school/district decides to implement a bullying prevention program, it is imperative to evaluate the effectiveness of its strategies. To do so, a school must first identify data sources.

For those schools implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP), the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire (OBQ) serves as an excellent data source. It is administered to all students in grades 3-12 before the program begins and at regular intervals (ideally each year) from then on. The results of questionnaires are compiled and compared to a national database and schools receive a standard report back.

Schools that have not implemented the OBPP can rely on:

• Outside Data Sets such as the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) and YRBSS (Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System) from the CDC.
• Internal Data Sets such as bullying reports and SAP team referrals.
• Indirect Assessment Data such as absenteeism and academic performance results (PSSA, SAT scores).

To learn more, download an Institute guide on Evaluation Strategies.