We already have fire codes in place and similarly, there needs to be commensurate minimum best practices to be “up to code” referencing school violence. People say “We need to increase the protection standard for our kids! We need to raise that bar!” What parent, faculty or administrator would disagree? However, how can you raise something that doesn’t exist?
Such was the conundrum addressed by both the Federal Commission on School Safety (2018) and the National Sheriffs’ Association (2020). The Federal Commission on School Safety reviewed nationwide safety practices and in its Final Report of the Federal Commission on School Safety made meaningful and actionable recommendations for best practices to keep students, staff and faculty safe.
The National Sheriffs’ Association, in support of these national school safety guidelines, and in recognizing violence prevention and intervention as critical components to ensuring school safety, issued its June 2020 amended School Safety Resolution.
Like legislating fire out of schools, the first steps toward legislating violence out of schools is to implement such guidelines. This Certified Safe Schools 3Shields School Safety Education training program facilitates implementation of these same recommended best practices and in doing so introduces sustainable school violence intervention.