The Council of the Great City Schools and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) jointly published a report that provides schools and police new and innovative approaches aimed at improving student safety in schools and communities.

Building Safer Schools and Communities presents findings and recommendations from the Joint Task Force on School Safety and Justice, launched in February 2022. Composed of district superintendents, school police leaders, and community police chiefs, the task force worked together over the course of one year to develop, identify, and share effective practices, tools, and resources.

The report is both a culmination of this work and a joint action plan for moving forward with a focus on shifting mindsets and reframing relationships and practices related to schools, police, and communities.

Building Safer Schools and Communities proposes a framework for action built on the following three pillars:

• Expand mental health support and social emotional skills development for students, families, and communities.
• Rethink school discipline policies and practices to ensure fair and equitable practices for all students.
• Promote community partnerships and broad-based collaboration to ensure student safety and support.

The Task Force believes that keeping students safe is not just the responsibility of schools and law enforcement but must be a joint effort requiring a multi-stakeholder approach by all members of the community.

These efforts include engaging community members in stakeholder meetings about policies and procedures relating to community safety as well as establishing relationships with community organizations such as local PTAs to promote safer communities and stem the spread of gun- and gang-related violence.

Another recommendation was to conduct outreach and advance communication to build stronger partnerships among community leaders, the school district, and local law enforcement agencies.

The report highlighted the School District of Philadelphia expanding funding for a Safe Passages program, where community members are paid to keep children safe on their way to and from schools. In addition, the school system is providing grant funding to expand and enhance police safety zones around the schools most affected by gun violence.

And Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Ky., has curated a list of community organizations that offer outreach and education services for students. Included are organizations offering conflict resolution and other prosocial behavior trainings.

“With firearm-related injuries as the most common cause of injury-related death for children and youth ages 1 to 24 in the United States, the Council and its member school districts cannot reduce gun violence in the nation’s urban schools and communities alone,” said Council Executive Director Ray Hart. “We believe the joint findings and recommendations we propose with the IACP offer a roadmap for the nation’s education and law enforcement leaders to work together to navigate the complex challenges of improving school and community safety. These efforts will not only help change the lives of the 7.8 million urban schoolchildren and families we serve, but—ultimately—will improve the future of our country’s public education system—and our entire nation.”

The report can be downloaded at: https://www.cgcs.org/saferschools

Crisis Communications Guidebook Released

The Council recently released a guidebook to help communication directors in urban school districts proactively plan for, and be ready to manage communications during a crisis, such as a school shooting.

Crisis Communications: Before, During, and After a Crisis or Active Shooter Event provides tips on how to prepare in advance of a crisis, including coordinating communication with other public information officers in city/county agencies and drafting and activating holding statements. In addition, the document offers guidance on steps that should be taken during a crisis, including putting the superintendent in front of the messaging, keeping school boards informed, managing the news media, and timelines for crisis updates, such as what to do in the critical first 10 minutes.

According to the guidebook, the time for school districts to anticipate a crisis is now. “A proactive communications plan will include holding statements, sample messages, and other tools recommended in this guidebook. With this plan in place when a crisis occurs, the school district can focus on 1) securing students and staff, 2) keeping the entire school community informed of progress, and 3) leading an effective emergency response.”

The document also includes specific communication examples from school districts that have experienced cyberattacks.

The guidebook can be accessed on the Council’s website at https://www.cgcs.org/crisiscommunication