Partnering to Ensure School Safety

Violence in schools is an alarming reality today. Countless news stories have detailed the incidents, profiled the offenders, and dissected law enforcement’s response. Educators, law enforcement, and mental health professionals realize that a one‐size‐fits‐all approach to threat assessment is not effective because not all threats are the same. Relevant officials must collaborate to appropriately assess and address threats in a coordinated fashion. Police and school officials across the country have implemented strategies and programs that help reduce violence and promote and enhance the safety of students and school employees. This brief describes programs that focus on primary and secondary school‒law enforcement partnerships that ensure school safety.