The Leader’s Guide to a Comprehensive School Safety Plan provides school and district leaders with important tools and safety strategies depending on the level of risk.  Although the emphasis is on prevention through climate interventions, the Plan is comprehensive because it includes resources to deal with escalating dangerous situations.   

In implementing a Comprehensive School Safety Plan, leaders first need to educate staff, students, and families about the various components of a comprehensive plan (prevention, intervention, and response).  In the BIG IDEAS section, we have provided handouts, power points, fillable templates, and support materials that can be used in many ways to help stakeholders understand the components of a comprehensive plan. Factsheets and examples are downloadable PDF forms that can be accessed through this website. All downloadable templates are in Word form.

When stakeholders understand the rationale behind an approach, they will have the tools to respond appropriately to risky situations. Understanding the relationship between school climate and safety or academics will be easier to secure buy-in for the programs or activities.  Once the majority of your faculty understand the spectrum of approaches to a safe environment, the leaders will be ready to create a safe climate, as well as react to risks and dangerous situations.  A team will assess needs and resources, set goals, and implement strategies that have been shown to be effective. 

Once people are brought up to speed with the BIG IDEAS, the BIG ACTIONS section (what can we do more of, less of, or better?) walks through the process of setting up a Safety Leadership Team (SLT) and a six-step Action Planning process from Needs Assessment to Monitoring and Evaluation.  In each of these sections, Templates for each step along the way are provided to help document the planning as well as keep the leader and the team focused.  All the templates are listed under the Support Materials tab. 

In the Building Teams section, the leader can follow the steps to set up a Safety Leadership Team (SLT).  Once the team has been selected, an SLT Workbook {insert link} can be downloaded for every team member. There are 5 tasks for the team to complete to facilitate smooth team functioning. 

To build on what is already working in your climate, the Action Planning Process guides the SLT to create a plan to increase feelings of safety at the school.

The Comprehensive School Safety Checklist provides a quick look at all the safety components for a school to consider. You can download the checklist at any time.

TIPS

• Interviews with experienced principals can provide insight into implementing strategies
• If you know which PowerPoint or Handout you want, click on the Support Materials tab at the top of the screen, then scroll down to the item you want.
• Throughout the website, active links to PowerPoints, handouts, and materials are in GREEN.

Congratulations on taking a comprehensive review of school safety interventions in your school.