School Safety
Overview
In today’s environment, K-12 schools and school systems face an evolving and dynamic set of security risks and threats, ranging from acts of targeted violence to bomb threats to natural disasters. Schools also have unique needs, considerations, and challenges when it comes to safety and security. These factors can impact a school’s ability to carry out its educational obligations and provide a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for students.
CISA’s Role
CISA, along with other organizations throughout government, law enforcement, and communities nationwide, supports K-12 schools and districts in their efforts to enhance school safety and security. CISA’s School Safety Task Force is the agency’s dedicated program established to strengthen schools’ safety and security across the country. CISA’s current and ongoing school safety efforts include the development of new programs and capacity-building products, training, and tools specific to strengthening protection and mitigation measures and capabilities at K-12 schools.
CISA resources and programs are designed to help schools prevent, protect against, and mitigate security threats, risks, and emergency situations. CISA also recognizes that each school is unique and contends with an individual set of school safety needs, considerations, priorities, and challenges. School personnel can use these resources, programs, and tools to develop an actionable and comprehensive school safety plan tailored to their specific circumstances.
Featured Content
K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit
This toolkit provides strategies K-12 institutions can use to implement and enhance safety reporting programs and encourage bystander reporting among students and school community members.
SchoolSafety.gov
This site provides a one-stop access point for information, resources, guidance, and evidence-based practices on a range of school safety topics and threats.
K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite
These products are designed to provide K-12 districts and campuses with resources, tools, and strategies to improve school physical security.
Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations
Reports on cybersecurity risks facing elementary and secondary schools and provides recommendations that include cybersecurity guidelines designed to help schools face these risks.
National School Safety Summit
The National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security, hosted by CISA, brings federal, state, and local school leaders together to share recommendations that enhance safe and supportive learning environments in K-12 schools.
School Safety Email Updates
Sign up to receive email updates on school safety-related news, events, opportunities, and resources from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Training
Explore CISA's school safety training opportunities.
K-12 School Security Guide Training Companion
K-12 School Security Guide “Train the Trainer” Companion Course
Services
Explore CISA’s portfolio of services available for K-12 schools.
CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages
Resources
Discover school safety publications and resources.
K-12 School Security Guide (3rd Edition) and School Security Assessment Tool
This guide provides a comprehensive doctrine and systems-based methodology to support schools in conducting vulnerability assessments and planning to implement layered physical security elements across K–12 districts and campuses.
Active Shooter Preparedness Resources
These trainings and resources focus on behavioral indicators, emergency action plan creation, actions to reduce consequences, and how to quickly recover from an incident.
SIMEX After Action Report
This report details the key findings and takeaways from the pilot School Security Simulation Experiment (SIMEX).
K-12 School Security Guide (2nd Edition) and School Security Survey
This guide provides preventive and protective measures of K-12 institutions to address the threat of gun violence in schools.
Contact Us
For questions or additional information, please contact SchoolSafety@hq.dhs.gov