School Safety

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Students embracing outside of school — Working together to keep schools, students, and staff safe

San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) staff provide training, technical assistance, and direct services to assist school districts in developing and supporting their Comprehensive School Safety Plans. These plans incorporate the Incident Command System (ICS) which is a specific requirement of the National Incident Command System (NIMS). NIMS guides all levels of government and non-government organizations and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents that may impact schools.

Senate Bill 906 Requirements

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Workshops and Trainings

School districts may also arrange to have school safety workshops conducted at their facilities for their employees by emailing Tim Ware. School safety trainings are also scheduled throughout the year at SDCOE facilities.

View Full Student Support Training Calendar

Active Shooter Training

After completing this training, participants will be prepared to lead their school or school district through the planning process needed to support the implementation of this approach.

Comprehensive School Safety Planning

This workshop takes an in-depth look at the legal requirements for Comprehensive School Safety Plans (CSSP). Participants will be guided through the mandated development and annual review process, as well as a component-by-component look at each of the required CSSP elements.

Crisis Intervention and Recovery

This two-day workshop is designed to provide school-based mental health professionals with the knowledge, and to begin to develop the skills, needed to meet the immediate needs of students and staff following a school-associated crisis.

Emergency Operations Centers for Schools

Learn more about the Emergency Operations Centers for Schools training, desired outcomes for participants, and which school or district personnel should attend.

Incident Command System for Schools

View details about the Incident Command System for Schools training, desired outcomes for participants, and which school or district personnel should attend.

Threat Assessment Training

This workshop will review a practical, site-based team approach for conducting thorough, accurate assessments of students’ threats of violence. Team member roles, actions steps, documentation and follow-up support will be addressed, and sample district and site protocols will be provided.

Comprehensive School Safety Plan Resources

Summary of revisions made on July 10, 2015

Section B A on Child Abuse Reporting Procedures was updated to include information on AB 1432, which requires all school districts, county offices of education, state special schools and charter schools to:

Annually train, using the online training module provided by the State Department of Social Services, or other training, employees and persons working on their behalf who are mandated reporters, as defined in Penal Code 11165.7, on the mandated reporting requirements.
Develop a process for all persons required to receive training under the bill to provide proof of completing this training within the first 6 weeks of each school year or within six weeks of that person's employment.

CSSP Self-Monitoring Tool (.doc)

CSSP Required Element - Resources

Child Abuse Reporting - EC 32282(a)(2)(A)

AB 1432 – Annual Mandated Reporter Online Training

With the passage of AB 1432 in September 2014, school districts, county offices of education, state special schools and diagnostic centers operated by the State Department of Education, and charter schools are required to:

Annually train, using the online training module provided by the State Department of Social Services, or other training, employees and persons working on their behalf who are mandated reporters, as defined in Penal Code 11165.7, on the mandated reporting requirements.
Develop a process for all persons required to receive training under the bill to provide proof of completing this training within the first six weeks of each school year or within six weeks of that person's employment.

The training method and process used to assure compliance with AB 1432 should also be outlined in each school's Comprehensive School Safety Plan.

Mandated Reporting Steps
Suspected Child Abuse Report Form

Disaster Procedures - EC 32282(a)(2)(B)

Active Shooter Events
- Best Practice Considerations for Schools in Active Shooter and Other Armed Assailant Drills – National Association of School Psychologists & National Association of School Resource Officers
Wildfires
FEMA Online Courses
- Introduction to the Incident Command System for Schools
- Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education, and Houses of Worship
- Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools
- Workplace Security Awareness
- Surveillance Awareness: What You Can Do
Readiness and Emergency Management For Schools Technical Assistance Center
- Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans
- Emergency Management for Non-Traditional Schools
California Department of Education
- California Department of Education Disaster preparedness/crisis response
- Crisis Response Box
California Emergency Management Agency
- Resources for Schools
- School Emergency Response: Using SEMS at Districts and Sites
San Diego County Office of Education
- Free access to Kognito: a one-hour, online, interactive training for use with all school district staff to prepare them to recognize the signs of psychological distress and make appropriate responses.

Procedure for Notification of Potentially Dangerous Students - EC 32282(a)(2)(D)

Los Angeles Unified Policy

Safe and Orderly Environment - EC 32282(a)(2)(H)

California Department of Education
- Safe School Plan Addendum Workbook (Word)
California Emergency Management Agency
- Hazard Assessment by Address
- Non-Structural Earthquake Hazard Guidance and Checklist for California Schools
National Crime Prevention Council
- School Safety and Security Toolkit (PDF)
Positive Behavior Interventions and Support
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center:
- A Guide to School Vulnerability Assessments
Texas School Safety Center
- Texas School Safety Toolkit (PDF)

Crisis Intervention Resources

National Association of School Psychologists

School Safety and Crisis Resources
More information on the PREPaRE workshop series

National Traumatic Stress Network

Psychological First Aid for Schools
Other resources on Psychological First Aid

Resources for Use in Response to a Death with Impacts to the School Community

Death caused by an accident or illness related in some way to a school activity

Death caused by an accident or illness (not related a school activity)

Homicide

Suicide

For resources and materials related to suicide prevention and intervention, please visit our suicide prevention page.

Incident Command System Resources

As described by FEMA, the Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach that:

Allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications operating within a common organizational structure.
Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private.
Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources.

ICS is flexible and can be used for incidents of any type, scope and complexity. ICS allows its users to adopt an integrated organizational structure to match the complexities and demands of single or multiple incidents.

ICS is used by all levels of government—federal, state, tribal and local—as well as by many nongovernmental organizations and the private sector. ICS is also applicable across disciplines. It is typically structured to facilitate activities in five major functional areas: command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration. All of the functional areas may or may not be used based on the incident needs. Intelligence/Investigations is an optional sixth functional area that is activated on a case-by-case basis.

As a system, ICS is extremely useful; not only does it provide an organizational structure for incident management but it also guides the process for planning, building, and adapting that structure. Using ICS for every incident or planned event helps hone and maintain skills needed for large-scale incidents.

Resources

FEMA Online Courses

Introduction to the Incident Command System for Schools
Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education, and Houses of Worship

ICS Position Guides

Sample Position Guides

Operations Section Team Leader Guides

Evacuation Team Leader

Threat Assessment Resources

School Threats: A Resource for Teachers and Staff (PDF) (download a print-ready brochure) — SDCOE, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego Law Enforcement Coordinating Center, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Virginia Model for Student Threat Assessment — Dewey G. Cornell, Ph.D., University of Virginia
Threat Assessment in Schools — US Secret Service and US Department of Education Report
The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective (PDF) — Federal Bureau of Investigation

Safety and Well-Being Resources

Tips for Violence Prevention and Dealing with School Crisis

External Links

These external website links are provided for your professional information. The San Diego County Office of Education is not responsible for their contents.

Email Contacts

Abuse Community Against Substance / Partnership for a Drug-Free San Diego

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

School Safety

Weather-Related Hazards - Guidance and Resources

Heavy Rain and Flooding/Hurricanes/Tropical Storms

Tips for Staying Safe During Floods

Stay informed by listening to radio or television.
- Ensure you have batteries or power back-up for your electronic devices
Get to higher ground immediately.
Obey evacuation orders. Listen to the authorities if you are told to leave.
Avoid flood waters. Do not walk or drive through flood waters as they may be deeper than they appear.

Resource for Schools

The California Department of Education has a variety of information and resources to help districts and schools prepare for flooding.
Ready.gov for kids has some kid-friendly tips to help prepare for floods and other natural disasters.
A Kid-Friendly Guide To Handling A Weather Emergency While At School - Weather.com

Resources for the Community

The County of San Diego has a list of locations where you can find sand bags.
ReadySanDiego has tips on how to prepare for flooding and other resources and safety tips.
The National Weather Service has safety tips for hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and more.

Parent and Staff Communication

Letter to parents about potential extreme weather

Students with backpacks walking through quad at school

Maintaining Safe Learning Environments: Threat Reporting and Firearms Safety

Ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff members while on a school campus is integral to student success. Everyone has a role to play in maintaining safe and secure learning environments, and new legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 906, aims to increase collaboration with law enforcement and reinforce the importance of safely storing firearms in the home.

This resources contains a brief overview of SB 906, considerations for districts/schools when addressing the new requirements, helpful definitions, and some answers to important questions about the legislation. For additional resources and information, visit Improving School Safety Through Bystander Reporting: A Toolkit for Strengthening K-12 Reporting Progress from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and United States Secret Service.

Senate Bill 906 Overview and Requirements

SB 906, most of which went into effect Jan. 1, 2023, has two important requirements for schools.

Parent/Guardian Notification About California Laws on Safe Storage of Firearms: Starting in the 2023-24 school year (and effective July 1, 2023), local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to notify parents about California’s laws around storing firearms safely. Information from the Safe Storage of Firearms memo should be included in your LEA’s annual notification to parents and families. The memo can be found on the California Department of Education website or within the SDCOE Annual Notification template.
Immediately Report Homicidal Threats to Law Enforcement: SB 906 requires a school official who is alerted to or observes any threat or perceived threat related to grades 6-12, to immediately report it to law enforcement. Law enforcement, with the support of the LEA, must immediately investigate the threat.

"Threat or perceived threat" means any writing or action of a pupil that creates a reasonable suspicion that the pupil is preparing to commit a homicidal act related to school or a school activity. This may include possession, use, or depictions of firearms, ammunition, shootings, or targets in association with infliction of physical harm, destruction, or death in a social media post, journal, class note, or other media associated with the pupil. It may also include a warning by a parent, pupil, or other individual. The threat does NOT need to be firearm-specific, it must only be related to a homicidal act/thought.

As a general rule, LEAs should continue to follow their established threat assessment protocol when addressing a potential threat. When there is reasonable suspicion that the pupil is preparing to commit a homicidal act related to school or a school activity, law enforcement should be contacted immediately rather than at the conclusion of the threat assessment process. Law enforcement will then work with the LEA to conduct the threat investigation. If school staff is unsure whether there is reasonable suspicion, reach out to the law enforcement partner that serves your school.

When two or more school officials jointly have an obligation to report the threat and when there is agreement among them, they may submit a single report. Law enforcement will keep a record of any reports received.

Once notified, law enforcement, with the support of the local educational agency, must immediately investigate. At this point, the school should share with law enforcement any information already gathered as part of its threat assessment. The report submitted to law enforcement must include copies of any documentary or other evidence associated with the threat or perceived threat. Information that can be shared with law enforcement is outlined in Record Sharing References.

The investigation and threat assessment should include a review of the firearm registry of the Department of Justice and, if justified by a reasonable suspicion that it would produce evidence related to the threat or perceived threat, a school site search, and/or search of student property. It does not include a search of the student’s person.

Important Definitions

School Official

Any certificated or classified employee of a local educational agency or member of the school district governing board, county board of education, or governing body of a charter school whose official duties bring the individual in contact with pupils in any of grades 6 to 12, inclusive, as part of a middle school or high school, on a regular basis

Law enforcement

Can mean any of the following: (1) A peace officer employed or contracted by a school, school district, or local educational agency for school safety purposes.(2) A police or security department of a local educational agency. (3) A local law enforcement agency or agencies with geographic jurisdiction over a local educational agency.

Homicidal act

While not expressly defined in SB 906, a homicidal act is generally defined in case law and statute as an act causing the death of another. More specifically, SB 906 focuses on the “threat of a homicidal act.”

Threat or perceived threat

Any writing or action of a pupil that creates a reasonable suspicion that the pupil is preparing to commit a homicidal act related to school or a school activity. This may include possession, use, or depictions of firearms, ammunition, shootings, or targets in association with infliction of physical harm, destruction, or death in a social media post, journal, class note, or other media associated with the pupil. It may also include a warning by a parent, pupil, or other individual

Security department

SB 906 considers a school district security department as one separate from city and county law enforcement agencies and without general police powers. In the Education Code, “security department” is defined broadly to cover a variety of security options available to school district governing boards. Specifically, Education Code section 38000 et seq. provides two categories of school “security departments” that school boards may elect to use in their districts: (1) a school police department that serves under a chief of police or (2) a security department that serves under the direction of a chief of security or district superintendent

Reasonable Suspicion

SB 906 required reporting of “any writing or action of a pupil that creates a reasonable suspicion that the pupil is preparing to commit a homicidal act related to school or a school activity.” The reasonable suspicion standard is used often in assessing threats, but the term still remains difficult to implement. So, what is “reasonable suspicion” in the context of SB 906?

“Reasonable suspicion” means someone has articulable facts about a situation
- The observer/reviewer of the threat can break it down in such a way that there is no doubt as to the validity of the threat’s content (not whether it’s a valid threat)
Together with rational inferences from those facts
- Anyone looking at the facts shared would be able to come to the same conclusion based on the threat’s content, that is also reasonable and not unrealistic (i.e., juvenile wouldn’t have access to a rocket launcher but may have access to firearms)
Warranting objective suspicion
- And based on the previous points, without external or internal (i.e. bias in favor of the student or against law enforcement) influences, would agree the activity/threat is suspicious

Considerations Around SB 906

Threats to campus safety can elicit heightened feelings of anxiety and fear in the school community. It is essential that each school has a prepared and collaborative threat assessment team who understands their role in evaluating and managing threats.
The process of investigating a threat can be very difficult and stress-inducing for the students and families who are involved, particularly when law enforcement has been contacted. It is essential that both the school officials and law enforcement partners maintain a relationship focused on a trauma-informed approach when working directly with students and families to address a potential threat.
Connect with the Special Education department to plan for the support that will be provided when a student with a disability is involved in a homicidal threat.
Connect with the law enforcement partner that serves your school to plan for the reporting process when a school official becomes aware of potential threat.
Understand that the response of law enforcement may differ depending on the nature of the threat, the volume of calls being addressed by law enforcement, and the experience of the responding officer. Schools should continue to take all steps outlined in the school threat protocol that are needed to maintain campus safety.

Potential Implications to Consider

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this change the current threat assessment process or reporting, and if so, how?

Local educational agencies should continue to follow their established threat assessment protocol when addressing a potential threat. Law enforcement should be contacted immediately when there is reasonable suspicion that the pupil is preparing to commit a homicidal act related to school or a school activity. Law enforcement will then work with the LEA to conduct the threat investigation.

Does this law change who I contact in law enforcement as part of our LEA’s threat assessment protocol?

No. LEAs are advised to follow their regular protocol for contacting law enforcement. The contact should be made immediately when there is reasonable suspicion that the pupil is preparing to commit a homicidal act related to school or a school activity. With the passage of SB 906, law enforcement has a significant role in the ongoing threat investigation.

The new law only applies to schools with grades 6 through 12. What about schools with grades TK through 5?

The directive to notify law enforcement immediately about a homicidal threat applies to only schools with grades 6 through 12; however, the directive to notify parents/guardians about laws around the safe storage of firearms applies to schools of all grade levels. All potential threats regardless of the grade of the student should be addressed using the school threat protocol.

Is this just related to guns?

No. While SB 906 is generally focused on guns and gun violence, the threat of homicidal act may reference not only possession, use or depictions of firearms, but also ammunition, shootings, or targets in association with infliction of physical harm, destruction, or death. Given the broad language added by the Legislature in Ed. Code section 49390 (e), the requirements of SB 906 likely could apply to threats involving weapons beyond guns, including bombs and any other weapons intended to cause physical harm, destruction, or death.

What is considered to be an investigation?

For the purposes of SB 906, an “investigation” must occur immediately after receiving the report and should include at a minimum: (1) a review of the firearm registry of the Department of Justice and (2) a search conducted at the school site, but only if the search is justified by a reasonable suspicion that the search would provide evidence related to the threat or perceived threat. The broad language in Education Code section 49394 around an “investigation” and “threat assessment” seems to provide broad flexibility to law enforcement and school districts to tailor the exact protocol for an investigation to the specific threat at issue, as long as the above minimum requirements are met.

With SB 906, does a school official still complete the School Threat Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)?

Once the threat has been investigated and addressed using the school threat protocol, a school official should make a School Threat Suspicious Activity report to the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center. If law enforcement was involved in the investigation, they should also complete a SAR report.

For Education Code 49393 subparagraph (c) what are agencies doing to “keep a record of any report received”?

SB 906 does not provide clear guidance on the best or the required method to “keep a record of any report received.” At a minimum, any report kept by the agency “shall include copies of any documentary or other evidence associated with the threat or perceived threat” in accordance with Education Code section 49393(c). Until further guidance is provided by the Legislature or the California Department of Education, we recommend that agencies follow their existing practices and procedures used for documenting student threats, including keeping a record of when schools have called law enforcement. We encourage school districts to work directly with their local law enforcement agencies to develop and/or refine reporting systems to ensure that the increased volume of threat reporting from SB 906 can be managed in an efficient and effective manner for each local community.

Record Sharing References

Personally identifiable information may be disclosed to appropriate officials (i.e., law enforcement) if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or others. When information is disclosed, the LEA must record the following information:

The articulate and significant threat that formed the basis for the disclosure, which is:
- Related to an actual, impending, or imminent emergency (campus shooting)
- Determined on a case-by-case basis
- Limited to the period of time of the emergency
The parties to whom the LEA disclosed the information

34 CFR 00.36 Disclosure: emergencies

(a) An educational agency or institution may disclose personally identifiable information from an education record to appropriate parties, including parents of an eligible student, in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.

(b) Nothing in this Act or this part shall prevent an educational agency or institution from -

(1) Including in the education records of a student appropriate information concerning disciplinary action taken against the student for conduct that posed a significant risk to the safety or well-being of that student, other students, or other members of the school community;

(2) Disclosing appropriate information maintained under paragraph (b)(1) of this section to teachers and school officials within the agency or institution who the agency or institution has determined have legitimate educational interests in the behavior of the student; or

(3) Disclosing appropriate information maintained under paragraph (b)(1) of this section to teachers and school officials in other schools who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests in the behavior of the student.

(c) In making a determination under paragraph (a) of this section, an educational agency or institution may take into account the totality of the circumstances pertaining to a threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals. If the educational agency or institution determines that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, it may disclose information from education records to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. If, based on the information available at the time of the determination, there is a rational basis for the determination, the Department will not substitute its judgment for that of the educational agency or institution in evaluating the circumstances and making its determination.

EC 48902 Student who commits a crime

When reporting a crime committed by a student with a disability, the LEA must provide a copy of the student’s special education and disciplinary records to the authorities to whom the crime was reported. The disclosure is to ensure the authorities involved have knowledge necessary to appropriately interact and respond to students with a disability.

Appears to be a mother hugging her child while sitting on the couch

How to Talk With Kids About School Threats

We know schools remain among the safest places for students, and school leaders, educators, and staff members take their responsibility in promoting safe campuses and addressing safety concerns very seriously. SDCOE gathered tips for educators and families to talk with kids about school threats.

SDCOE Partners with District Attorney, Law Enforcement on Violence Prevention Resource for Educators

A new brochure created by SDCOE and local law enforment partners offers tips on what school employees look for and what to do if they are concerned a student may be a danger to themselves or others.

Resources for Educators, Families to Discuss School Shootings

SDCOE compiled resources to help adults as they support students with processing their thoughts and feelings following a school shooting.

Resources for Educators, Families to Discuss Mass Shootings in the Community

When there are horrific mass shootings in our country, our young people need a safe space to share their thoughts, worries, or fears.

main contacts

Tracy Schmidt
Director, Safety, Well-Being, and Student Engagement
tracy.schmidt@sdcoe.net

Tim Ware
Coordinator, School Safety and Security Services
tim.ware@sdcoe.net
858-298-2080
cell: 619-550-7106