State legislators are looking at violence in schools and asking these questions. Recent changes in federal law allow states to authorize schools, juvenile justice agencies, law enforcement officials, and community professionals to share information more freely to help troubled kids before they become violent, better prepare staff, and generally make schools safer. This publication will show you how.

Since 1994, 42 states have passed laws to increase the flow of information between professionals that work with troubled kids. This new publication is intended to help state legislators and staff learn more about what they can do, what issues to consider, examples of state approaches, and how these policies affect local schools, including concerns about student confidentiality.