School Security Enhancements
School security enhancements refer to physical and procedural improvements designed to protect students, staff and visitors from potential harm. Legislation focused on school security enhancement looks at creating safe, secure environments where learning can take place without fear of violence or disruptions, while balancing the need for open, welcoming spaces.
School Security Enhancements Policy Examples:
- School Facilities: States may have the opportunity to adopt comprehensive policies aimed at enhancing the physical environment of school buildings, which could contribute to the overall safety and effectiveness of educational settings. These policies may encompass various elements including automatically locking doors, bulletproof glass, etc.
- Policy Example: West Virginia mandates that each county board of education, public charter school and multicounty vocational center conduct an annual assessment of the safety and security of the school facilities under their jurisdiction. The bill establishes the Safe Schools Fund and directs the State Board of Education to promulgate rules for a process through which county boards of education, public charter school governing boards, and multicounty vocational center administrative councils can submit funding requests.
- School Resource Officers: States may have schools partner with local law enforcement by having SROs on-site. SROs can play multiple roles, including responding to incidents, building relationships with students, and supporting school safety initiatives. The presence of law enforcement in schools varies, with differing approaches to their role and scope.
- Policy Example: Kentucky legislation allows private or parochial schools to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency or the Kentucky State Police to provide school resource officers employed by these agencies.
- Emergency Preparedness and Drills: Schools often conduct emergency drills and preparedness training to ensure that staff and students know how to respond during crises such as lockdowns, evacuations or severe weather. These drills can be designed to help the school community practice responses to a variety of potential threats, from natural disasters to security incidents.
- Policy Example: Vermont has enacted legislation requiring schools to implement a policy that mandates conducting options-based response drills and fire drills during the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. The head of each school is responsible for reporting the completion of these biannual drills to the Vermont Agency of Education using a format approved by the secretary of education.
- Integrated Communication Systems: Communication plays a vital role in any security plan. Schools can enhance safety by adopting integrated communication systems that allow staff, law enforcement and emergency services to communicate quickly and efficiently during an incident. This may include intercom systems, mobile apps or emergency alert systems that can reach the entire school community.
- Policy Example: Texas enacted legislation that provides silent panic alert technology in school districts and open-enrollment charter schools that allows for immediate contact with emergency services.
- Threat Assessment and Prevention: In some states, schools use threat assessment models that help identify and address potential risks before they escalate into violence. Threat assessment teams typically involve educators, mental health professionals and law enforcement working together to evaluate and respond to potential threats in a non-punitive, preventive manner.
- Policy Example: Oklahoma has enacted legislation requiring school districts to complete ongoing risk and vulnerability assessments. These assessments must be conducted by July 1, 2026, with reassessments occurring every five years. Under this measure, any school district applying for an Oklahoma School Security Grant Program award must complete a risk and vulnerability assessment and agree to allocate grant funds for items recommended by the assessment. The grant provides funding for “improving the safety and security of educational environments for students, teachers, and staff across the state”. Additionally, districts are required to provide de-escalation and behavioral threat assessment and management training to their employees.
Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention
Bullying, including cyberbullying, is recognized as a serious issue that can negatively affect students' physical and emotional well-being, substance use and suicide. School bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Traditional schoolyard bullying has expanded with cyberbullying, which takes place online or through digital devices, such as smartphones or computers. Cyberbullying can include sending threatening or harassing messages, posting embarrassing photos or videos, or spreading rumors and lies online. It also varies from physical bullying in that it can happen at any time, anonymously and be difficult to trace. Cyberbullying can occur in social media platforms, text messages and online gaming communities among other spaces.
Both in-person and online forms of bullying can lead to long-term consequences for victims, perpetrators and the overall school climate. Research shows that this type of adolescent victimization occurs frequently and can result in serious consequences for both the bully and the victim. According to the CDC’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System report, 25% of students nationwide reported experiencing bullying. The 2021 Report on Indicators of School Crime and Safety found that a higher percentage of public schools reported cyberbullying in 2019-20 than in 2009-10 (16% versus 8%). Addressing bullying effectively requires comprehensive approaches that include prevention, intervention, and support for all students involved.
Bullying and Cyberbullying Policy Examples:
- Definition and Forms of Bullying: Bullying typically involves repeated aggressive behavior intended to harm, intimidate, or exert control over another individual. It can be verbal, physical, or social, and it may occur in various school settings, such as classrooms, playgrounds, or buses. Cyberbullying, a form of bullying that occurs online, often involves the use of social media, messaging apps, or other digital platforms to harass, threaten, or demean others.
- Policy Example: States may use legislation to define bullying. In Virginia, bullying is defined as any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma.
- Impact on Students and School Safety: Bullying and cyberbullying can have significant impacts on students, including increased anxiety, depression, absenteeism and decreased academic performance. In some cases, bullying has been linked to more severe outcomes such as self-harm or violence. Schools with high rates of bullying may experience a less positive school climate, which can undermine both safety and student success.
- Policy Example: States may also look at task forces or working groups to review bullying. New Jersey established a taskforce to review and make recommendations concerning the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. In December 2021, the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force Report recommended clarifying the definition of bullying to highlight power imbalances, strengthening school climate teams, addressing social media’s impact, increasing funding for anti-bullying initiatives and enhancing staff training on harassment and positive school climate strategies.
- Intervention and Response: Schools typically respond to bullying incidents by investigating the behavior, providing support to the victim and applying appropriate consequences to the perpetrator in accordance with school policies. Effective intervention involves not only addressing the immediate behavior but also ensuring that all students involved receive the necessary support to prevent future incidents. Cyberbullying, in particular, may require coordination with technology providers or law enforcement.
- Policy Example: Policies may include clear procedures for reporting and responding to bullying, ensuring schools address incidents in a timely and supportive manner. In Illinois, legislation prohibits bullying in schools, and schools are required to implement a bullying prevention policy that meets specific criteria. This includes reporting all instances of bullying, as well as any threats, suggestions, or instances of self-harm linked to bullying, to the parents or legal guardians under defined guidelines. Additionally, Illinois established the Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Fund to support these efforts.
- Professional Development: Both students who are bullied and those who engage in bullying behaviors may benefit from support services. School counselors, mental health professionals and teachers may be required to complete professional development around bullying recognition and prevention.
- Policy Example: New Jersey enacted legislation that concerns annual suicide prevention instruction for public school teaching staff members.
Response Strategies
Some prevention strategies may also be applicable as response strategies because certain measures designed to prevent incidents can simultaneously support effective responses when incidents do occur.
Crisis Response Plans
School crisis response plans refer to comprehensive strategies that schools implement to effectively manage emergencies, ensuring the safety of students, staff and visitors. These plans provide clear guidelines for responding to a variety of potential crises, including natural disasters, acts of violence and health emergencies. Key elements typically include communication protocols, evacuation routes, lockdown procedures, and coordination with local law enforcement and emergency services. Regular drills, such as fire or active shooter drills, are conducted to ensure all participants are familiar with the procedures. A well-developed crisis response plan is essential for reducing risk, protecting individuals, and facilitating a swift and coordinated recovery during and after an emergency.
- Policy Example: In California, each school district and county office of education is responsible for developing a comprehensive school safety plan. If the plan includes procedures for active shooter or armed assailant drills, it must specify detailed procedures for conducting those drills. Additionally, chartering authorities are authorized to deny charter school petitions that do not include active shooter and armed assailant drills in their safety plans.
School Resource Officers
School resource officers play a role in both prevention and response. In terms of response, SROs are often the first line of defense during emergencies, such as active shooter situations or other forms of violence on school grounds. Typically, their training includes how to manage crisis swiftly and coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency responders to ensure student and staff safety. Additionally, SROs play a role in post-incident procedures, assisting with lockdowns, securing the school perimeter and providing immediate support to school administration and crisis teams
- Policy Example: Kentucky enacted legislation that requires school districts to assign SROs to each school by Aug. 1, 2022. Districts who are unable to meet funding or staffing requirements for the bill would work with the state school security marshal to hire officers on a per campus basis until each school has an SRO assigned to it.
Trauma-Informed Response
A trauma-informed response refers to strategies that prioritize understanding and addressing the effects of trauma on students during and after a crisis. These strategies focus on creating a supportive environment by equipping staff with the tools to recognize and respond to trauma-related needs, ensuring students receive appropriate mental health support. Trauma-informed responses may include offering counseling services, providing safe spaces for students to process their experiences and training educators to use sensitivity when interacting with affected students. This approach helps schools foster emotional recovery, promote resilience, and ensure a safe, supportive learning environment for all.
- Policy Example: Kentucky requires each school to adopt a trauma-informed approach, provide training to teachers and staff on recognizing and understanding trauma, and incorporate appropriate behavioral interventions.
School Discipline Policies
School discipline policies serve as a tool for maintaining order and ensuring the safety of students and staff. These guidelines may aim to promote a positive school environment by setting clear behavioral expectations and outlining structured responses to disciplinary issues. States may adopt various models of discipline, including restorative justice practices, traditional disciplinary actions or a combination of approaches. These policies can be tailored to reflect local priorities, align with broader educational goals and address specific concerns such as bullying, absenteeism or school violence.
- Policy Example: Nevada established the Advisory Committee on the Safety and Well-Being of Public School Staff. The committee is responsible for reviewing, investigating, and making recommendations to the Legislature, state offices and local political subdivisions on matters related to the safety and well-being of public-school staff. This includes evaluating laws or regulations that affect staff safety and well-being, as well as ensuring consistent implementation of student discipline policies.
Restorative Justice Approaches
Restorative justice offers an alternative to traditional punitive discipline—typically involving exclusionary practices such as detentions, suspensions, and expulsions—by focusing on repairing harm and restoring relationships. This approach emphasizes dialogue and reconciliation between those affected by a conflict, encouraging students to take accountability for their actions and make amends. Restorative practices aim to reduce recidivism, build stronger community ties and help students reintegrate into the school environment after conflicts arise. By fostering understanding and promoting positive relationships, restorative justice can lead to improved school climates and reduced disciplinary incidents. Many states and districts are incorporating restorative practices into their broader efforts to create more equitable and supportive discipline policies.
- Policy Example: Maryland requires school principals to implement restorative approaches, rehabilitative special education or other supportive service interventions before suspending or expelling a student, except in certain circumstances.
Reducing Exclusionary Discipline
Exclusionary discipline practices, such as suspensions and expulsions, have been shown to disproportionately impact students of color and students with disabilities, often leading to negative long-term outcomes. As an alternative, many states are shifting focus toward policies that keep students in the classroom, while addressing the underlying causes of behavioral issues. This approach prioritizes interventions such as counseling, mentorship and academic support to help students develop positive behaviors and improve their academic performance. The goal of this type of policy may be to reduce reliance on exclusionary discipline and promote equitable learning opportunities for all students, fostering a more supportive and inclusive school environment.
- Policy Example: Under California law, a student cannot be suspended or recommended for expulsion unless the school district superintendent or school principal determines that the student has committed specific acts. In cases of racist bullying, harassment or intimidation, the law encourages local educational agencies to implement restorative justice practices, involving both the victim and the perpetrator, for students who have been suspended or subjected to other corrective measures.
Zero Tolerance Policies
Zero-tolerance policies, originally introduced to address school violence following incidents like the 1999 Columbine shooting, mandate strict, predetermined punishments for specific offenses. However, research has shown that these policies often result in disproportionate and overly harsh penalties for minor infractions, contributing to increased suspensions and expulsions. In response, some states have reevaluated and reformed their zero-tolerance laws. These reforms reduce automatic punishments for less serious offenses, allowing schools to implement more flexible and proportionate disciplinary measures.
- Policy Example: Delaware adopted a resolution that establishes the Student Behavior and School Climate Task Force to address issues related to student behavior and school climate. It acknowledges current challenges, such as increased suspensions, educator dissatisfaction, and the negative impact of zero-tolerance policies and extreme disciplinary measures. The task force aims to find comprehensive solutions to improve both student learning and educator retention. It will study factors like the causes of behavior issues, the impact on learning and teacher satisfaction and the effectiveness of current discipline policies, including alternatives to zero-tolerance approaches like restorative practices. The group will consist of state legislators, educators, administrators, and other key stakeholders. A final report came out November 2024.