Federal, New York State, and other State initiatives are presented that focus on reducing violence in the schools. The report is intended as a background paper for efforts to address violence in schools in New York. The discussion notes that violence has increased by 61 percent in the public schools in New York City since June 1989, with the most significant increases in recent years. The increase occurred in all five categories of school crime on which statistics are maintained in New York: assault, robbery, sex offenses, drug law offenses, and weapons possessions. The majority of incidents occurred in about 40 of the 124 city high schools. The discussion summarizes research on the factors associated with school violence and vandalism, prevention strategies, intervention strategies, and response strategies. The analysis concludes that schools alone cannot eliminate violence and that the active participation of all levels of government, private organizations and agencies, students, parents, and community members is also essential. Charts, appended definitions and tables, and 47 references