Preventing school violence requires a collaborative community commitment. OSS partners with educators, law enforcement, internal Wisconsin DOJ divisions, community organizations, and national school safety leaders to implement effective practices in Wisconsin schools.
The resources listed below focus on reputable agencies and websites and are intended to familiarize the reader with comprehensive school safety topics and the state and national leaders known to provide up to date training, tools, technical assistance, and recommendations that collectively address comprehensive school safety.
Comprehensive School Safety
The
Comprehensive School Security Framework, 2nd Edition (PDF) is a robust and vetted compendium of considerations, best practices, and recommended resources to support the safety efforts of local schools and communities. This document can guide local efforts to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from violence.
The
National Center for School Safety (NCSS) provides
training, one-on-one support, and evidence-based resources addressing a broad range of school safety challenges, providing K-12 schools with the tools and strategies needed to prevent violence and create safe, supportive learning environments.
School Safety Planning
- The “I Love U Guys” Foundation offers training opportunities centered around crisis response (Standard Response Protocol) and post-crisis reunification (Standard Reunification Method) based on research-based best practices.
- The PREPaRE School Safety and Crisis Preparedness Curriculum was developed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to provide evidence-based resources and consultation related to school crisis prevention and response.
- From NASP, the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), and Safe and Sound Schools (2021), the Best Practice Considerations in Active Shooter and other Armed Assailant Drills in Schools document provides best practice information that will help schools conduct trainings that make best use of resources, maximize effectiveness, and minimize physical and psychological risks
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) K-12 School Security Guide provides K-12 districts and campuses with resources, tools and strategies to improve school physical security.
- The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) offers resources such as a manual of safety and security guidelines for K-12 schools.
- The Safe and Sound Schools is a school safety advocacy and resource center that provides research-based tools and support for crisis prevention, response, and recovery. Resources include toolkits, reports, a podcast, and training opportunities.
- The CISA School Security Assessment Tool is designed to help inform the school safety and security planning process by analyzing the security measures and associated supports in place across a school campus, and identifying where improvements can be made to safety and security.
- The Safe and Sound Schools is a school safety advocacy and resource center that provides research-based tools and support for crisis prevention, response, and recovery. Resources include toolkits, reports, a podcast, and training opportunities.
- The Ohio School Safety Center assists schools and first responders with preventing, preparing for, and responding to threats and acts of violence using a solutions-based approach to improving school safety.
- This presentation, Schools and the Fire Code: A Partnership for Safety, from the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services discusses how schools can ensure they are complying with the fire code.
- The Texas School Safety Center is a Research center at Texas State University, that serves as a clearinghouse for safety and security information, research, training, and technical assistance.
Other School Safety Resources
- The Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO) resource center can respond confidentially and quickly to make sure we can get help to you or to someone who is hurting or struggling. Highly trained Resource Center Analysts staff the SUSO tipline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Analysts respond to tips and deploy a local response by communicating directly with school staff, law enforcement, and mental health professionals.
- The K-12 bystander reporting toolkit was developed by the Department of Homeland Security and offers five key strategies for schools to consider in strengthening their reporting programs
- The K-12 School Security Guide from CISA provides K-12 districts and campuses with resources, tools and strategies to improve school physical security, including Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools.
- The Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) has created an assessment checklist for virtual or anonymous threats. KUSD collaborated with the Wisconsin DOJ OSS and the National Threat Assessment Center to develop this helpful tool, and we are sharing it with their permission.
- The personal safety and security: swatting guide provides essential information and resources on swatting, its impact, and how to report suspicious activity.
- The Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI) provides support and guidance for building and maintaining a positive school climate. DPI offers resources on topics such as bullying prevention, mental health, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, youth suicide prevention, and more.
- The National Center for School Safety (NCSS) provides a Cultivating a Supportive School Climate: "How To" Guide. This resource offers a step-by-step approach for assessing and improving school climate, providing strategies and resources for educators, administrators, and practitioners to implement at both the classroom and district levels.
- The National PBIS Technical Assistance Center offers resources for social skills, problem-solving, and improving climate.
- A collaborative project between the DPI, the CESA Statewide Network (CSN), and the Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools (WISH) Center focuses on training of school personnel with the goal of impacting the well-being and equitable outcomes of every student.
- The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) operates the CyberTipline, where the public and service providers can report suspected child sexual exploitation. NetSmartz is NCMEC's online safety education program. It provides age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children be safer online with the goal of helping children to become more aware of potential online risks.
- The Wisconsin DOJ Internet Crimes Against Children Task force (ICAC) provides training and resources to keep kids safe online, including social media guides, a podcast, and a monthly newsletter with updates on current trends.
- The Ultimate School Administrator's Guide to Social Media is a quick guide for school administrators regarding major social media platforms and trends used by students.
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers a suite of online safety tools and resources including the Social Media Threat Guidance for School Staff and Authorities.
- Wis. Stat. § 118.07(4) shares information on general school operations, health and safety requirements.
- The National School Boards Association (NSBA) works to ensure every student has access to excellent and equitable public education governed by high-performing school board leaders and supported by the community.
- The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) provides a variety of services such as advocacy, legal and human resource services, policy, governance, and communication services.
- The Safe Schools Legal Resource Manual is a resource for laws relating to school safety and other topics including search and seizure, speech, bullying, confidentiality, and child abuse.
- The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Offering a wide range of information and resources, including funding and governance.
- The Office of School Safety offers training, protocols, consultation, and resources in the area school-based threat assessment and management. See our BTAM resources for a comprehensive list of resources.
- The Office of School Safety has resources available to assist Wisconsin schools during all phases of crisis response and recovery, from preparing in advance of a crisis to responding during the initial crisis and implementing interventions that lead to successful recovery after a crisis. See our crisis response and recovery resources for a comprehensive list of resources.