Toolkits & Guides

School Threat Assessment Toolkit

Date:

March 6, 2024

Topics

Threat Assessment

Crisis Timeline

Prevention Planning

Audience

School Personnel, Mental Health Professionals, Law Enforcement & First Responders

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Complete Toolkit

The School Threat Assessment Toolkit is designed to aid schools in employing behavioral threat assessment (TA) and management as part of a comprehensive violence prevention strategy. Authored primarily by Dewey Cornell and Jennifer Maeng, and with input from school safety leaders, experts, government agencies, and the National Center for School Safety, the toolkit offers guidance on training, implementation, and assessment of school TA teams. It aims to ensure fidelity to student rights while providing practical tools like documents, forms, videos, and additional resources to support schools’ efforts.

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Section 1: How to Select and Train Your School Threat Assessment Team

This section stresses the vital role of threat assessment in school safety plans, highlighting the importance of equitable implementation. Considerations include existing safety measures, staff availability, and community backing for adopting this approach.

Section 1

Section 2: How to Implement Threat Assessment in Your School

This section provides a concise overview of key principles underlying school threat assessment, including typical pathways to violence, which are essential components of a comprehensive school safety plan.

Section 2

This photo for section 3 of the toolkit features a group of three teenagers walking towards the camera in their school hallway, laughing and talking

Section 3: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Threat Assessment Program

This section describes steps for evaluating the effectiveness of a threat assessment program, including topics such as implementation fidelity and the effects of threat assessment on students.

Section 3

Video Series: Illuminating Insights into the School Threat Assessment Toolkit

This video series offers expert guidance on applying threat assessment practices in K–12 schools, with practical strategies for collaboration, evaluation, and supporting diverse student needs.

Videos