Who We Are

Improving School Safety and Preventing School Violence

The National Center for School Safety (NCSS) is committed to improving school safety and preventing violence. Based at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and School of Public Health, we bring together researchers and practitioners from across the country to provide expert-led training, one-on-one support, and evidence-based resources. As a multi-disciplinary center, we address a broad range of school safety challenges, providing K-12 schools nationwide with the tools and strategies needed to prevent violence and create safe, supportive learning environments.

Our Milestones

1,405

Grants supported

108

Trainings and
resources

25,186

Enrollments

What We Offer

Trainings: Engage with expert-led, evidence-based trainings to help your school communities implement effective safety programs. These include webinars, self-paced trainings, learning communities, and workshops.
Resources: Explore the NCSS’ comprehensive library of podcasts, videos, written resources, school safety blogs, and more!
Crisis Navigation Resources: Visit our Crisis Navigation Resource page for a curated selection of resources to support individuals during difficult times, such as the loss of a student or a community crisis. Organized by audience type (e.g., caregiver, student, school staff), these resources offer tailored guidance to ensure compassionate and effective support.
One-on-One Support: Schools can access personalized (technical) assistance to implement and sustain effective safety strategies. Our school safety specialists collaborate directly with school teams to provide tailored guidance and support.

Our Services

The National Center for School Safety serves school communities in several key ways:

A group of attendees at the 2023 STOP Conference in Washington, D.C.

STOP Training and Technical Assistance (TTA)

Supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the NCSS provides free TTA to organizations funded by the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence grants.

Front view of happy school kids standing in outside corridor at school while a schoolgirl is sitting on wheelchair in foreground.

Michigan School Safety Initiative (MSSI)

Funded by the State of Michigan, the MSSI offers tailored training and technical assistance for free to Michigan schools, focusing on enhancing safety and preventing violence.

Evaluation

For organizations interested in assessing the effectiveness and relevance of their school safety practices, the NCSS offers comprehensive evaluation support upon request.

Who We Serve

At the National Center for School Safety, we believe that everyone has a role in ensuring school safety. Whether you’re a school staff member, district leader, mental health professional, law enforcement officer, family member, or part of a community-based organization, your efforts are vital to creating a safe learning environment.

Our work spans the U.S., including direct support for Michigan schools to enhance safety and prevent violence. No matter your role or location, we are here to help you make schools safer for all.

Our Commitment to Growth

Looking ahead, the NCSS is committed to continuously evolving to meet the needs of school communities nationwide. Through a combination of innovative research and technical assistance, we build a strong foundation of evidence-based strategies that schools can confidently implement.

We ensure our services and resources remain relevant, effective, and actionable by leveraging data-driven insights, including feedback from needs assessments and school community input.