04/12/23: Strategies and Resources to Help Prevent and Mitigate Targeted Violence in K-12 Schools: Targeted violence refers to violence that is premeditated and directed at specific individuals, groups, or locations. It is distinct from violence that is spontaneous, random, or impulsive, and is often distinguished by pre-attack behaviors that suggest violence as a possible outcome.

Schools can actively work to address the threat of targeted violence through a variety of prevention, protection, and mitigation measures. Preventing targeted violence requires a community-based, comprehensive, and holistic approach, and many members of the school community can play a role.

01/31/23: New Child Exploitation Topic Page and Resources Available on SchoolSafety.gov: Child exploitation is an issue that can affect youth of any age, race, geographic location, or socioeconomic status. Victimization can take place directly on school grounds as well as through online or social media platforms, and victimized students may suffer physical, mental, and emotional trauma. Schools, however, are uniquely positioned to support students facing exploitation. Educators, administrators, and other staff play an important role in identifying and reporting suspected cases, building a protective and positive school environment, supporting children impacted by exploitation and connecting them to critical services, and raising awareness of the issue among students and parents.

Human Trafficking in America’s Schools
Third Party-Training videos for children
Project iGuardian

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: With youth mental health concerns top of mind as students return to the classroom, it’s important for school staff to understand and recognize warning signs, as well as expand opportunities for early identification and intervention. K-12 Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis.

Be prepared as you head into this school year by joining us on Thursday, September 15 to gain a better understanding of:

Statistics defining the current youth mental health landscape & why prevention efforts are critical
Common myths about youth suicide & how to respond to a student who is at risk of suicide
How training and technology can be used for early identification of concerning student behavior
Best practices for whole-child safety, wellness and success

November 1-2, 2022: The National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security, hosted by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), brings federal, state, and local school leaders together to share actionable recommendations that enhance safe and supportive learning environments in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools. See: 2022 National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security Resource Guide.

See: https://www.cisa.gov/publication/power-hello-resources

Tuesday, June 28, 2022: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Resources for Enhancing Physical Security in Schools training on preventing and protecting against potential physical attacks and threats in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.

The webinar will feature presentations from the CISA School Safety Task Force, Office for Bombing Prevention, Critical Infrastructure Exercises, and Security Programs, who will provide an overview of the threats schools face when it comes to physical security, as well as the CISA resources available for school personnel to help address and prevent these threats.

June, 2022: Intravaia was recertified in Active Shooter Response Training - ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Certified Instructor Recertification, which now includes Lesson Plans for Grades K – 3rd, 4th – 8th and 9th – 12th:

Lessons are structured appropriately for the cognitive level of younger students, and for grades four and later, Stop-and-Do activities are facilitated by a teacher in the familiar surroundings of the classroom
This model provides age-appropriate training to minimize the anxiety of preparing for active shooter response while helping to develop decision-making skills students can use during a real threat

May 2022: Mental Health Awareness Month: An important opportunity to recognize the significance of mental health and its impact on the well-being of all Americans – including our schoolchildren. This month and all year long, the K-12 school community plays a critical role in supporting the mental health and well-being of students.

Federal School Safety Clearinghouse: Infrastructure Security Month: Bombing Prevention Programs and Resources for K-12 Schools November 17, 2021. See also Office for Bombing Prevention.

This webinar is part of the 2021 School Safety Webinar Series, a program hosted by the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse to address emerging risks and threats facing the K-12 school community. Held on a monthly basis, the webinar series covers a range of school safety topics, and provides information on the resources, tools, and best practices available to equip school leaders with a set of strategies in creating safer and more resilient school systems. The Federal School Safety Clearinghouse is a federal government interagency collaboration comprised of the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Justice to provide a comprehensive and centralized location for federal school safety resources. The Clearinghouse reviews, collects, and distributes guidance, tools, best practices, and actionable recommendations to improve safety and security within school communities. Learn more at SchoolSafety.gov or sign up for updates.

October marks Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, an important time to focus on and raise awareness of the risk of bullying and cyberbullying in school communities. Bullying is widespread in the United States, and the behavior can threaten students’ physical and emotional safety as well as impact their social and academic success at school.

Bullying Awareness and Prevention: Creating Safer Schools Training 10/26/21 : Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on October 26 at 3:00 PM EDT bullying awareness and prevention resources, tactics, and strategies to create safer school environments. This session will provide information and resources to the kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) school community. For: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals; Counselors and Mental Health Practitioners; School and District Administrators; Teachers and School Staff; School Resource Officers; Parents and Guardians; Students.

The session will feature guest speaker and bullying prevention expert Melissa Mercado Crespo, Ph.D., MSc, MA from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Violence Prevention. She will provide an overview of what bullying is and how to identify it, key strategies and actions schools and school personnel can implement to prevent and address it, and the tools and resources available from the government to support schools in these efforts. She will also describe the different types of bullying (including cyberbullying), their impact on school violence, and the relationship between bullying, suicide, and the well-being of school-age youth.

The discussion will also feature additional school safety-related resources on topics like school climate and mental health access and support and a Q&A session for participants to engage directly with Dr. Mercado Crespo.

Everyone at school can work together to create an environment where bullying is not acceptable – whether that be in the classroom, on school grounds, or online. Read on for resources, programs, and tools kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools, educators, parents, and students can use to help identify, prevent, and address bullying and cyberbullying.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is using technology to harass, or bully, someone else. Bullies used to be restricted to methods such as physical intimidatiaon, postal mail, or the telephone, but computers, cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices offers bullies forums such as email, instant messaging, web pages, and digital photos.

Forms of cyberbullying can range in severity from cruel or embarrassing rumors to threats, harassment, or stalking. It can affect any age group; however, teenagers and young adults are common victims, and cyberbullying is a growing problem in schools.

Why has cyberbullying become such a problem?

The relative anonymity of the internet is appealing for bullies because it enhances the intimidation and makes tracing the activity more difficult. Some bullies also find it easier to be more vicious because there is no personal contact. The internet and email can also increase the visibility of the activity. Information or pictures posted online or forwarded in mass emails can reach a larger audience faster than more traditional methods, causing more damage to the victims. A large amount of personal information is available online, so bullies may be able to arbitrarily choose their victims.

Cyberbullying may also indicate a tendency toward more serious behavior. While bullying has always been an unfortunate reality, most bullies grow out of it. Cyberbullying has not existed long enough to have solid research, but there is evidence that it may be an early warning for violent behavior.

How can you protect yourself or your children?

Teach your children good online habits. Explain the risks of technology, and teach children how to be responsible online. (See Keeping Children Safe Online for more information.) Reduce their risk of becoming cyberbullies by setting guidelines for and monitoring their use of the internet and other electronic media (cell phones, tablets, etc.).
Keep lines of communication open. Regularly talk to your children about their online activities so that they feel comfortable telling you if they are being victimized.
Watch for warning signs. If you notice changes in your child's behavior, try to identify the cause as soon as possible. If cyberbullying is involved, acting early can limit the damage.
Limit availability of personal information. Limiting the number of people who have access to contact information or details about interests, habits, or employment reduces exposure to bullies that you or your child do not know. This may limit the risk of becoming a victim and may make it easier to identify the bully if you or your child are victimized.
Avoid escalating the situation. Responding with hostility is likely to provoke a bully and escalate the situation. Depending on the circumstances, consider ignoring the issue. Often, bullies thrive on the reaction of their victims. Other options include subtle actions. For example, you may be able to block the messages on social networking sites or stop unwanted emails by changing the email address. If you continue to get messages at the new email address, you may have a stronger case for legal action.
Document the activity. Keep a record of any online activity (emails, web pages, instant messages, etc.), including relevant dates and times. In addition to archiving an electronic version, consider printing a copy.
Report cyberbullying to the appropriate authorities. If you or your child are being harassed or threatened, report the activity. Many schools have instituted anti-bullying programs, so school officials may have established policies for dealing with activity that involves students. If necessary, contact your local law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies have different policies, but your local police department or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) branch are good starting points.

Additional information

The following organizations offer additional information about this topic:

Federal Trade Commission – https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0028-cyberbullying
StopBullying.gov – https://www.stopbullying.gov/
Teacher.org – http://www.teacher.org/resource/bullying/
Talking with Kids About Being Online – https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Talking-with-kids-about-being-online-_2018.pdf

Identify and Address Threatening Behaviors in Your School

Discover Threat Assessment and Reporting Resources to Prevent Targeted School Violence

Studies show that prior to an act of violence, most attackers behaved in a way that made others concerned, and oftentimes other people knew about the attacker’s plan.

Reporting on a variety of threatening or concerning student behaviors and other suspicious activities provides authorities and school personnel with the information they need to stop violence before it occurs. To address these potential threats of violence, schools should establish a reporting system that is continually monitored and allows for anonymous reporting, as well as form a threat assessment program, or a multidisciplinary group process, to evaluate these reports. These efforts can significantly reduce violence, including mass casualty attacks, and create safer and more secure school systems.

***Training: School Safety Webinar: Back-to-School: Safety Resources for a Successful Year: Return to School Roadmap, Lessons from the Field, and Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative.

When: August 31, 2021, 3:00 to 4:00 PM ET

Where: Adobe Connect (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event)
Who: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals; School and District Administrators; Teachers and School Staff; School Resource Officers; Local Law Enforcement; Mental Health Practitioners and School Counselors; Parents
Registration: https://schoolsafetybacktoschoolwebinar.eventbrite.com/

Resources and Tools SchoolSafety.gov is home to resources, strategies, and tools the kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) academic community can reference to support the implementation of threat assessment and reporting initiatives at schools. Featured resources include:

Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence (Department of Homeland Security) – Guidance from the U.S. Secret Service provides actionable steps schools can take to develop comprehensive targeted violence prevention plans.
Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools (Department of Homeland Security) – This recently released U.S. Secret Service report, which examines 67 averted plots to conduct a school attack, identifies key findings and commonalities across potential targeted violence incidents.
School Safety: Research on Gathering Tips and Addressing Threats (Department of Justice) – New research suggests that schools should have a systematic and coordinated approach in place to gather and process information on threats, respond appropriately, and document the response.
Addressing the Risk of Violent Behavior in Youth: Know the Signs of Youth Violence and How to Identify and Reduce Risk in Schools (Department of Education) – This presentation, created by the National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, is designed to help teachers and school personnel identify behaviors and other signs that could result in youth violence.
Ohio School Threat Assessment Training (Ohio Attorney General) – This series of training videos combines best practices from government agencies, and helps schools team up with other community members, such as police officers and mental-health advocates, to prevent targeted violence.

Title IX

August 14th, 2020: Title IX Sexual Harassment on Campus. Intravaia completed training with Thompson Coburn LLP, Title IX Training Series. See: https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/title-ix-training-series-materials

Intravaia has maintains training on Title IX with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Title IX and other federal and state laws collectively prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, pregnant or parenting status, and LGBTQ identity. These laws impose legal requirements and protections that serve as a foundation from which colleges, schools and universities have created policies, practices, services, and programs that work in concert to advance equity for students, staff, and faculty of all identities.

Module 1 – An Introduction to Managing Title IX Sexual Harassment on Campus

Presented by Scott Goldschmidt and Aaron Lacey

Module 2 – Formal Complaints of Title IX Sexual Harassment

Presented by Scott Goldschmidt and Aaron Lacey

Module 3 – Title IX Investigations & Informal Resolutions

Presented by Susan Lorenc, Scott Goldschmidt and Aaron Lacey

Module 4 – Title IX Hearings

Presented by Retired Judge Booker Shaw, Scott Goldschmidt, and Aaron Lacey

Module 5 – Title IX Determinations

Presented by Susan Lorenc, Scott Goldschmidt, and Aaron Lacey

Module 6 – Title IX Appeals

Presented by Retired Judge Booker Shaw, Scott Goldschmidt, and Aaron Lacey

Additional Materials

Title IX Comparison

Title IX Compliance Checklist

Title IX Compliance Training Series Videos

For additional Title IX see following resources:

U.S. Department of Education rules: implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) went into effect. These new rules represent a significant shift in federal standards for how schools respond to sexual harassment. Specifically, compared to former federal guidance on sexual harassment, the new rules include three major changes: the rules include a new definition of sexual harassment, change the standard for schools to respond to sexual harassment to “deliberate indifference,” and require schools to implement a new, prescriptive complaint process.

Office of the Title IX University of Washington

WAC 132E-122-250 Initiation of Title IX proceedings.

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction:

These groups are protected classes under Washington state law: