> School Safety Resource Guide: Government Sources
Federal
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NIOSH Safety Checklist Program for Schools contains four chapters and several appendices. Each chapter builds on the preceding one to develop a workable plan for implementing a checklist program.
FEMA Risk Management Series
Primer to Design Safe School Projects in Case of Terrorist Attacks (PDF) includes information on how to conduct a threat/ risk assessment, prepare site layout and building design, and create school safety plans. Text version.
FEMA On-Line Course Helps Schools Develop Effective Emergency Operations Plans
The course takes between six to eight hours to complete; those successfully finishing it receive a certification of completion. The course is located at: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is362.asp
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion -- Adolescent and School Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention organization with publications and web resource lists relating to school health issues including violence and terrorism.
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control -- Youth Violence
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention organization that studies and reports on youth violence as a public health issue.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service - School Safety
NCJRS is a federally funded resource offering information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide.
Secret Service Safe School Initiative
In 2002, the U.S. Secret Service completed the Safe School Initiative, a study of school shootings and other school-based attacks that was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education. Also available is the Threat Assessment in Schools guide.
U.S. Dept. of Education
Select "Safe Schools" from Quick Link pull-down menu for a list of resources, including:
U.S. Dept. of Education Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
OSDFS supports efforts to create safe schools, respond to crises, prevent drug and alcohol abuse, ensure the health and well being of students, and teach students good citizenship and character. OSDFS coordinates ED efforts in these areas with other federal agencies and also leads ED Homeland Security efforts. Includes a section on Emergency Planning.
U.S. Dept. of Justice School Crisis Response Initiative
The organizational model presented in this bulletin is intended to guide schools and school districts as they develop their own school-based crisis response plans.
U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)/National Fire Data Center
Topical Fire Research Series: School Fires (December 2004) looks at all school fires including those occurring outdoors on school property and compares such characteristics with those of school structure fires.
School Safety Initiatives by State
Most of the States have initiated a school safety program or initiative:
Alabama Safe School Initiative
A comprehensive plan that provides to Alabama schools training and resources promoting safety and emergency response. The Initiative is a joint effort by the Office of the Attorney General, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor, the Alabama Department of Public Safety, and the Alabama Department of Education.
Alaska School Safety and Crisis Response Planning
Alaska seeks to provide districts with the most up-to-date materials and research-based programs so schools can evaluate what best meets the needs of their student population, community norms, and needs of the school district.
Arizona School Safety Plans and Resources
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is committed to assisting schools and communities to provide a safe learning environment that supports academic achievement. School safety is a community issue that requires collaboration between the schools, emergency response agencies, parents and the community.
Arkansas Safe Schools/Healthy Students
The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Plan represents a broad scale approach to creating healthy, safe school environments. Words are not necessary to describe the impact of the senseless and violent deaths that have occurred all across our nation in the last couple of years. The trauma has compelled an intense, conscious effort aimed at recovery and a return to security and safety.
California Contingency Plan for School Campus Emergencies
Outlines emergency response procedures that can be tailored for individual school sites.
Colorado Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities
The purpose of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program (SDFSC) is to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools and the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; involve parents; and coordinate these efforts and resources with other federal, state, and community entities.
Delaware School Safety
While violent deaths at schools are extremely rare events, the Department of Education is partnering with the Secret Service to develop training aids for school administrators, local law enforcement personnel and others to help prevent further attacks at schools.
Florida Department of Education: Safe and Healthy Schools
The Office of Safe Schools is responsible for three major areas: The Federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, Statewide Incidents of Crime & Violence & Discipline Reporting, and School Emergency Management Plans. See also Security Standards for Volusia County Schools.
Georgia Emergency Management Agency School Safety Project
Legislation signed into law by the Governor on April 21, 1999 directs the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to provide training and technical assistance on the issues of school safety to the education, emergency management, and public safety communities of Georgia. These services are provided through the staff of the School Safety Project. Senate Bill 74 mandates all public schools to develop a safety plan addressing weapons, drugs, gangs, natural disasters, bomb threats and explosions .These plans must include students, parents, law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services.
Hawaii Safe & Drug-Free School Zone and Communities Program
Illinois State Board of Education School Safety
This site provides information in these main areas: School Safety Assessment with online and printable questionnaires and areas of concern, an emergency procedures checklist which allows a school to develop emergency procedures and store them online. A list of resources available for further research in the area of school safety and crisis prevention planning along with assistance forms to be used in school safety planning or meetings with administration, parents, or staff members.
Indiana Dept. of Education School Safety Specialist Academy
The Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy will provide on-going, certified training and information on national and state best practices, as well as exemplary resources for school safety, security, intervention/prevention, and emergency preparedness planning. School Safety specialists will be trained to lead the development and implementation of school safety practices which will provide safe educational environments for all students in Indiana.
Iowa Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program (SDFSC) is a primary vehicle of the Federal government for reducing drug, alcohol and tobacco use, and violence, through school drug and violence prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation referral, and education in elementary and secondary schools.
Kentucky Safe and Drug Free Schools
Kentucky's Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) program provides funding to local school districts in an effort to support programs for the reduction of substance abuse and violence.
Louisiana Safe Schools Task Report
Provides links, references and programs about how to keep schools and children safe from violence. Every school should have a well-developed security plan whose primary strategy is to prevent violence and sustain a real sense of safety within the school.
Maine Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act
The purpose of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 2001 (SDFSCA), also known as Title IV-A of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is to prevent violence in and around schools and to strengthen programs that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Maryland Safe Schools
All students in Maryland s Public Schools, without exception, have the right to educational environments that are safe; optimal for academic achievement; and free from any form of harassment. As a result of this regulation, all school systems are required to complete a Safe Schools Action Plan.
Massachusetts Dept. of Education Safe and Drug Free Schools
Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities are federally funded activities to support local school and community programs that prevent violence around schools; prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs; involve parents; and coordinate with related federal, state, and community efforts and resources.
Missouri All-Hazards Planning Guide for Schools (PDF)
This document is designed to be used by school districts involved in emergency planning.
Michigan Safe Schools
Provides links to programs and publications on school safety as well as Terrorism and Bioterrorism resources.
Minnesota Coordinated School Health
This site provides information on how to prevent school violence and bullying and deals mainly with school health in areas such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse and tobacco use.
Mississippi Safe and Orderly Schools
The mission of the Division of School Safety is to provide the local school district and community with the most comprehensive resources available to assist the in the design, implementation, and maintenance of a safe and orderly educational environment. It also services as the lead state entity in school safety and acts as a clearinghouse for all school safety information and statistics
Montana Safer Schools and Communities Project
The Mission of the Safer Schools and Communities Project is to design, evaluate, and disseminate a research-based model that promotes discipline and responsible behavior, that reduces youth violence in schools and communities, and that encourages student academic achievement.
Nebraska Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
This site and its links are designed to be a "one-stop shop" for information schools can use in planning, developing and measuring the success of their prevention efforts.
New Hampshire Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning for Schools (CEMPS)
Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning for Schools (CEMPS) is a program offered to New Hampshire school districts aimed at providing emergency planning to protect school children and adult personnel during natural and manmade disasters.
New Jersey Safe Schools Manual
The Safe Schools Manual is a manual of self-inspection checklists covering environmental, health and safety regulations for secondary occupational and career orientation programs in New Jersey public schools.
New Mexico (Healthier Schools.org)
Children and youth who begin each day as healthy individuals can learn more effectively and are more likely to complete their formal education. With family and community support, systemic change must occur in order to address students' barriers to learning such as health problems, lack of access to support services, and poor peer relationships.
New York School Safety & Security (PDF)
Creating and maintaining safe learning environments is everybody s business. The New York State Education Department is committed to promoting safe and healthy learning environments where students are secure in their pursuit of educational success.
North Carolina Safe Schools
Provides schools and LEAs with technical support, resources and training necessary to establish and maintain safe, orderly and caring school environments for students and school personnel.
North Dakota
The Safe and Drug-Free Program offers schools local dollars and technical assistance to provide for safety measures at their school sites and research-based prevention programs.
Ohio Safe Schools
This page provides links to a safe school help line, guidelines for school safety, guidance for schools around homeland security, and responses to nuclear, biological and chemical hazards.
Oklahoma Safe Schools
Provides links on school safety and health requirements as well as resources for talking to children about war and terrorism and bioterrorism.
Oregon Dept. of Justice
"How Safe are Oregon Schools?" is the 2001 report (PDF format) of the Attorney General's School/Community Safety Coalition.
Oregon Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act was created to encourage strategies that prevent violence in and around schools, strengthen programs that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, and increase parent involvement.
Pennsylvania Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
Provides resources on bullying, hazing and harassment, violence and weapon possession as well as links to crisis response.
South Carolina Safe Schools and Youth Services (myschools.com)
The services provided by the Office of Safe Schools and Youth Services work toward achieving quality education and safer schools through a wide variety of strategies and approaches. The programs and activities are outlined by organizational section within the Office.
South Dakota Safe Schools (sdsafeschools.com)
Our "Safe Schools" site is a collection of links to other sites which specialize in various aspects of making a school safer. We hope these tools will help you become more aware and involved in your child's school.
Tennessee School Safety
The School Safety and Learning Support Programs area assists Tennessee schools in their efforts to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.
Texas School Safety Center
Serves as an ongoing interdisciplinary resource providing training and technical assistance statewide to reduce youth violence and to promote safety.
Texas Safe Schools Division
This site provides resources for school districts in the implementation of positive, proactive discipline management strategies.
Vermont Safe Schools Program
This program is an essential part of the state's effort to implement initiatives to reduce the frequency of problems that impede student learning and achievement. The team works with school communities to help create safe and healthy learning environments with regard to bullying, hazing, harassment and discrimination that may relate to race, gender, class, age, intelligence, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or religion.
Virginia School Safety
This site provides links to student conduct and suicide prevention and guidelines on school safety and violence.
Washington State Schools Comprehensive All Hazard Planning Guide and Model School Plan
Response to any emergency or disaster needs to be coordinated and must be consistent among the school, the district, and the response community.
Washington Safe and Drug-Free Schools
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools program centers on improving school safety. Among other tasks, the program provides an annual report to the legislature on the number of incidents involving weapons that occur in Washington schools.
West Virginia Safe Schools Helpline
A 24-hour, toll-free number has been assigned for all of West Virginia -- the same number for ALL schools. Report any information that could have a negative impact on students, school staff or school property. Here are some examples: violence, weapons, threats, thefts or property damage, drug or alcohol abuse, and sexual harassment.
Wisconsin Resources for Safe Schools
School districts should and must take effective steps to 1) prevent violent school crises from occurring, and in the worst case scenario, and 2) respond swiftly to minimize injury and loss of life and provide recovery support for surviving members of the school-community.
School Safety Resources Main Page