On December 18, 2018, the Federal Commission on School Safety, headed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, released its final report on the state of school safety. The Commission, which was formed after the school shooting in Parkland, FL, was tasked with making policy recommendations for schools and communities in order to help prevent future tragedies […]
READ MORE >>News headlines in both local and national outlets are continuously highlighting districts purchasing physical security measures, especially the use of security cameras. While administrators and law enforcement may see the benefit of installing cameras throughout and around school buildings, what are students’ perceptions of security cameras? The Journal of Adolescent Health published a report summarizing […]
READ MORE >>Bullying prevention research is a growing field of study and researchers are making strides in trying to understand the complexities and effects of bullying. We compiled and summarized recent research on the topic. “National student survey shows bullying is on the rise over the last three years, particularly among students of color in majority white […]
READ MORE >>So often school safety is focused on initiatives that help keep students and staff safe inside the school building or on district property, but what about on school buses? Riding the bus is how many students start and end their day, making it a crucial safety touchpoint. To learn what safety factors districts should consider […]
READ MORE >>Suicide does not discriminate. It can affect everyone despite their gender, age or ethnicity – including your students. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Monday, September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day– both are all about helping communities understand suicide, remove the stigma related to suicide and mental health, and provide those in […]
READ MORE >>On Thursday, April 26, 2018, we hosted our second School Safety Talks webinar on crisis prevention, preparedness, and response with Paul Timm, board-certified Physical Security Professional (PSP®) and Vice President of Physical Security Services at Facility Engineering Associates. During his webinar, “A Collaborative Approach to School Safety,” Paul explained the importance of collaboration among different […]
READ MORE >>Just two weeks after the Parkland school shooting, The New York Times published an article profiling how the threat of school violence, specifically school shootings, has turned school security into a booming business. However, several school security industry members are quoted throughout the article stating there is very little guidance on which technologies and processes […]
READ MORE >>All too often headline news covers families suing school districts after their children commit suicide to try to cope with bullying. This story from late 2017 highlights a family’s demands for better bullying prevention programs nationwide. Rosalie “Rosie” Avila was 13 years-old this past November when she hanged herself after months of alleged bullying at […]
READ MORE >>We scoured the headlines for topics you would find informative – here’s what we found “How active shooters are changing school security in the US,” CNN: According to a recent Government Accountability Office survey, two-thirds of schools in the U.S. conduct active-shooter exercises and nearly all of them have a plan if a shooter comes […]
READ MORE >>A game called the “Eraser Challenge” is making its way around schools, and it’s proving to be dangerous. It involves students rubbing an eraser on their hand or arm while completing a mundane task like reciting the A-B-C’s. Sounds innocent enough, right? However, the point of the challenge is to bear the friction until you […]
READ MORE >>Cybersecurity expert and advocate Reginald Corbitt recently authored an opinion piece in eSchool News to examine the root cause of cyberbullying. In his article, which you can read in its entirety here, he argues that many parents and educators alike believe curbing cyberbullying is as easy as limiting students’ access to technology. However, Corbitt references […]
READ MORE >>The Washington Post reported that effective January 1, 2017 the Missouri law, which previously defined harassment in six different ways, will now broadly define harassment as any act that “causes emotional distress.” The law also elevates harassment from a misdemeanor to a felony offense. “Let me be clear, the consequences of poor choices and bad […]
READ MORE >>In collaboration with YouthTruth, the Gay, Lesbian and State Education Network (GLSEN) surveyed more than 1,300 students ages 13 to 18 and more than 1,000 teachers to collect data about instances of biased language and bullying based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, body size, gender, religion, ability, economic status and gender expression. GLSEN used the results […]
READ MORE >>Discrimination based on religion and ethnicity has seen a dramatic increase, specifically in the last year. According to a recent Huffington Post article, this is due to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, as well as the media’s coverage of the election. A report published by the Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative found […]
READ MORE >>Lunchtime can be a rough time for students. If a student is new to a school or does not have friends in their lunch period, they may be at a loss for where to sit and oftentimes students don’t readily invite others to sit with them. To help students overcome this awkward situation and help […]
READ MORE >>In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, our entire October newsletter is dedicated to highlighting issues around bullying. We’ll highlight recent news about bullying prevention, customer best practices, and innovative tactics and useful tips. However, we wanted to give you a preview. A recent article from the San Diego Union Tribune reported that 62 percent […]
READ MORE >>People of all ages have been obsessed with Pokémon GO since its U.S. release in early July (Here’s a review of how the app works from School Library Journal). When students and staff go back to school in the coming days or weeks, Pokémon GO may be something that needs to be addressed. Obviously, the […]
READ MORE >>The long winter break means students and staff members are left to their own devices – which often translates into more time on social media. Even though school is not in session, students (and staff, too!) should still tweet and post responsibly in social media forums. In the past month, we’ve read a few compelling […]
READ MORE >>So often we read articles about how students’ social media posts can have negative consequences. We’ve read about students who lost academic and athletic scholarships due to an inappropriate Facebook post. We’ve heard about students getting suspended – or expelled – for tweeting a “joke” about a school safety matter. However, not much is said […]
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