PLUS in the News:
University Southern California Safe Communities Institute Adds PLUS Program to Safe School Climate Certification

University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy Safe Communities Institute (SCI), in partnership with PCE Solutions, offers a Trainer Certification Course (TCC) for individuals who are interested in receiving a Safe School Climate Certificate (SSCC) and recognized as a certified trainer in the Peer Leaders Uniting Students Program (PLUS) Program. The Safe School Climate Certificate program will engage participants with critical insight on emerging trends impacting a safe learning environment. The SSCC prepares educational leaders with the knowledge base, technical skills and program development methods needed to effectively establish a safe and supportive school climate for all students and staff. This comprehensive certification program goes beyond just building capacity in educational leaders, it will actually equip participants with the essential tools and proven curriculum to increase engagement in students and effectively build a safe school climate. Participants will become certified trainers of the PLUS Program, an evidence-based Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) model that is used by educational leaders as a tool to implement their action plans.
Stockton USD PLUS Program helps Raise Graduation Rates!
Featured on PBS
Watch the PBS article to learn how the Stockton Unified School District's PLUS Program helped turn around its graduation rate, going from a "dropout factory" to a success story.
In 2012, the Stockton Unified School District refocused on the implementation of a strong School and Law Enforcement Partnership and PLUS Program development that serves to Protect, Connect and Educate all kids.
This PBS news article details the success of the Stockton USD efforts in creating a safe school environment and keeping kids in school and off the streets. When kids are connected, feel safe and have meaningful participation in schools, the outcomes can lead to significant changes on school campuses and in community.
University Research






Evidence-based interventions are practices or programs that have evidence to show that they are effective at producing results and improving outcomes when implemented. The kind of evidence described in ESSA has generally been produced through formal studies and research. Under ESSA, there are four tiers, or levels, of evidence:
- Tier 1 – Strong Evidence: supported by one or more well-designed and well-implemented randomized control experimental studies.
- Tier 2 – Moderate Evidence: supported by one or more well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental studies.
- Tier 3 – Promising Evidence: supported by one or more well-designed and well-implemented correlational studies (with statistical controls for selection bias).
Interventions applied under Title I, Section 1003 (School Improvement) are required to have strong, moderate, or promising evidence (Tiers 1–3) to support them.
Register now for an upcoming conference!
The PLUS program sponsors multiple conferences throughout the school year. Working with Universities, State Departments, County Offices and School Districts from across the country, PLUS Staff members can find a variety of professional development conferences to attend. Conferences include:
- School Climate Conference
- Safe Schools Conference
- EDU Data Conference
- Stop School Violence Summit
Visit PCE Solutions to learn more - www.pcesolutions.org