New online educational programs on school safety are available to help students and parents understand the threat assessment process for preventing violence.

The programs were successfully field-tested in 2016-2017.  All groups demonstrated large gains in knowledge of threat assessment and improved willingness to report threats to school officials after completing the programs.

We encourage all students ages 12 and up and parents to complete these programs. We also encourage parents to be available to discuss any questions your child may have after viewing the program. Please address any questions about LCPS threat assessment policy and threat reporting to your child’s school administrator.

This 15-minute program is a way to learn about the threat assessment process used in your school and how it can prevent violence. You will be asked to identify your school, but not yourself, when completing the online program.  By the end of the program, parents/students will know/understand:

• School safety is complex but severe violence in schools is rare and can be prevented
• Threat assessment is a problem-solving approach for investigating threatening statements or behavior with the purpose of determining how serious a threat is, preventing violence, and resolving the situation
• Threat assessment teams include individuals with expertise in admin, counseling, instruction ,and law enforcement
• How teams investigate threats of violence
• Some threats are violation of state or federal law
• How to report a threat to school officials
• Discipline within a TA approach is based on threat seriousness
• There is research-based evidence to support TA as a safe and effective practice that improves student behavior, reduces bullying and reduces suspensions
• How to talk to their child about the difference between snitching and seeking help

The online educational programs can be accessed through the website: www.schoolthreatassessment.com. The LCPS access code to view the educational program is:

• Parent code: pmfkqz
• Student code: sbthn9

These programs help schools meet the requirement for threat assessment teams to “provide guidance to students, faculty and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior that may represent a threat to the community, or school…” (Code of Virginia § 22.1-79.4)

This project is being conducted by the Youth Violence Project of the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education. It is supported by Grant #NIJ 2014-CK-BX-0004 awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. Dewey Cornell is the project’s principal investigator and Dr. Jennifer Maeng is the project director and can be contacted with questions at jlc7d@virginia.edu.

The Virginia Center for School & Campus Safety (VCSCS) provides support to all Virginia K-12 schools through training, with resources and technical assistance, and by guiding best practices.

The VCSCS has released an instructional video for school staff, parents, and community members: K12 Threat Assessment in Virginia Schools