These resources are offered by the Colorado Office of School Safety to assist Colorado districts and individual schools in all phases of school safety efforts.
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Letters to School Administrators
- OSS Crisis Response Guidelines for K-12 Schools and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
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NEW - - OSS Crisis Response Guidelines for K-12 Schools and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
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The new OSS Crisis Guidelines incorporate recommendations based on lessons learned from school tragedies in Colorado and across the country in an effort to prepare others for the possibility of one of these events. The guidelines also incorporate the input of K-12 and higher education school security experts, mental health providers, and crisis responders.
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Prevention & Mitigation Materials
OSS Resource Guides
The Office of School Safety has created five resource guides to assist your district in addressing some of the most challenging issues facing schools today. Each guide can be downloaded from the OSS website and is updated annually. The one page listing has links and descriptions of all OSS resource guides.
- Bullying Prevention
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Updated - Positive School Climate: Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Education School Resource Guide (Compiled by CSSRC)
This Colorado School Guide includes resources that may help to address bullying and harassment in schools. This information was compiled by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center. Updated June 2019 and may be subject to change.
Resource Mapping Toolkit and Positive School Climate Action Plan Template
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Editable Microsoft Word version (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020 - You may download and update with your own information)
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PDF Version (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020)
Bullying and Harassment Resource Links for Schools (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020)
Bullying and Cyberbullying Resource Links for Parents (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020
Responding to Bullying: Tips for Educators (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020
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- Child Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention
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Updated - Child Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Resource Guide (Compiled by CSSRC)
- This resource is offered to satisfy legal mandates and community interest in implementing sexual abuse and assault prevention programs This information was compiled by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center in August 2021 and may be subject to change.
- Claire Davis School Safety Act
- Discipline in Schools
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- Examples of Restorative Justice Actions in Schools (Created by CSSRC July 2013 | Updated: Jan. 2020)
- Resources for Effective Discipline in Schools: At-a-Glance (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020)
- Positive School Climate
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Resource Mapping Toolkit and Positive School Climate Action Plan Template (Compiled by CSSRC | Updated: Jan. 2020)
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Editable Microsoft Word version (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020 - You may download and update with your own information)
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PDF Version (Created by CSSRC | Jan. 2020)
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- Resources for Positive School Climates: At-a-Glance (Created by CSSRC |Jan. 2020)
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- Restorative Practices (RP)
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Updated - CSSRC-Restorative-Practices-Guide (Compiled by CSSRC)
- This information was compiled by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center in June 2021 and may be subject to change.
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
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NEW -- Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
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Social Emotional Learning (SEL) advances educational excellence and equity through partnerships involving school, family, and community. These partnerships establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation.
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- Sexting
- Substance Abuse
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- Preventing Youth Marijuana Use in Colorado: Information for Schools (Created by CSSRC July 2013 | Updated: Jan. 2020)
- Suicide Prevention
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- A Media Guide on the Reporting of School Tragedies
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Created by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center
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This guide summarizes the copy cat effect that media coverage can have on suicides and school shootings. Tips for covering school tragedies responsibly are presented.
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Updated - Resources for Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention - A Guide for Schools (Compiled by CSSRC)
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Youth Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs (Created by CSSRC)
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This guide includes a variety of resources that address suicide prevention and intervention for youth. It is a compilation of information and not an endorsement of any specific program or services.
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This guide provides information resources for further investigation by a district and/or school before implementation in their community., Any program should be considered with adequate staff training and available school and community intervention resources. This information was updated June 2019 and may be subject to change.
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Created by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center (July 2014)
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Organizing A School Crisis Response
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A checklist of considerations for responding to a school crisis event.
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- A Media Guide on the Reporting of School Tragedies
- Threat Assessment
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Updated - Essentials of School Threat Assessment: Preventing Targeted School Violence (Created by CSSRC Nov. 2011 | Updated: August 2021)
- This document is intended as guidance to Colorado schools and was created with collaboration from the Threat Assessment Work Group of the Colorado School Safety Resource Center. Consultation with district legal counsel and local law enforcement is recommended. Additional consultation and template formats may also be obtained from the Colorado School Safety Resource Center, Department of Public Safety.
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Elements of a School Threat Assessment Process
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The Cycle of Threat Assessment
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Threat Assessment Inquiry Steps
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Secret Service Eleven Key Questions
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Selected Threat Assessment Resources
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Review of the Three Arapahoe High School Shooting 2013 Reports Facilitated by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center September 2016
On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, the interim legislative committee formed with the passage of SB15-214 (School Safety and Youth Mental Health in Crisis Interim Committee), met at the Capitol. The first item on the agenda was an overview of the report prepared by the working group that reviewed the recommendations of the three reports commissioned after the tragic Arapahoe High School shooting.
- Excerpt of the Report
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Full Detailed Report - Printable
The working group reviewed 158 recommendations agreeing with 119 of them outright and agreeing with an additional 34 with modifications. Five of the recommendations were common to all three of the commissioned reports.
The five common recommendations were:
- Schools should utilize climate surveys.
- There should be written agreements between school districts and their local law enforcement agencies about information sharing.
- School staff should be versed in FERPA including the fact that FERPA does not prevent reporting on students about whom staff have safety concerns.
- Districts should utilize the 11 questions of the U.S. Secret Service in their threat assessment process.
- Schools are encouraged to use Safe2Tell
The five recommendations with which the working group disagreed were:
- Security directors should be in charge of SRO's - The working group realizes that law enforcement agencies will always have ultimate responsibility and oversight of SROs.
- Each at-risk student to be paired with an adult - Although the working group acknowledges this is best practice and schools are always encouraged to connect students with adults, there was fear of this becoming a legislative mandate that would be difficult to track for districts.
- CSSRC auditing districts' use of their threat assessment process - The Center is always available to assist and has been conducting consultations and trainings across the state on threat assessment. However, the Center is not a compliance agency and a change in mission would disrupt the collaborative relationship that is necessary to assist schools.
- CSSRC certifying school staff and law enforcement in threat assessment every three years - Again, the Center's role in statute is not as a regulatory agency nor does it have the resources to certify staff in over 1800 schools.
- Schools use of a continuous improvement model of error review committee - Schools are always encouraged to review their threat assessment procedures, but the recommendation as outlined in one of the reports seemed unrealistic given staff time and resources.
Additionally, of the 158 recommendations, the working group felt that schools would need resources for at least 139 of those suggestions. Rural schools would need considerable resources to fulfill the recommendations.
Please see the report for an explanation under each recommendation of the resources necessary. For some recommendations you will also find "suggested assistance" paragraphs identifying where no- or low- cost resources might be acquired.
The Center would like to thank the 34 members of the working group (found on page 41 of the report) for their incredible dedication to this effort. Many came on their summer break and traveled long distances to attend these meetings. This report would not have been possible without their commitment to the safety of Colorado students. Thank you!
For additional comments or questions about the report, please contact Christine Harms, Director - Colorado School Safety Resource Center directly at 303.239.4534 or christine.harms@state.co.us
Protection Materials
- Best Practices Continuity of Operations (COOP) Template for Schools
- Colorado School Emergency Operations Plan Exercise Toolkit
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The Colorado School Emergency Operations Plan Exercise Toolkit was produced in a cooperative effort by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, Colorado Division of Emergency Management (Department of Local Affairs) and CSSRC (Colorado Department of Public Safety). It has been developed in a cooperative effort by a subcommittee of the Emergency Planning & Response Working Group established by the Colorado School Safety Resource Center (CSSRC).
This Toolkit provides schools and school districts a tool for a discussion-based (tabletop) test and review of emergency preparedness and response plans for a variety of disasters or emergency situations.
For further consultation or technical assistance from the working group, please contact the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.
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Additional Resources
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Response: Emergency Actions for K-12 Schools (CSSRC: Updated)
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Student Reunification Form December 2010 (Adapted with permission from Jefferson County School District)
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- Comprehensive School Safety Planning: Suggested Elements for Districts and Schools
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Comprehensive School Safety Planning: Suggested Elements for Districts and Schools
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This template, which continues to be updated was modeled after the U.S. Department of Education's (2007) four phase model of emergency planning: Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. This model is also in compliance with the Colorado Safe Schools Act CRS 22-32-109.1 which requires each school district to adopt and implement a safe schools plan.
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- Incident Command Structure (ICS) Tools for Schools
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These resources are offered as modifiable examples to assist districts and individual schools in safety planning efforts. The Colorado School Safety Resource Center is also available to assist any schools in their safety planning by providing resources, consultation, and technical assistance. Please contact our office 303-239-4435.
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) SB08-181 and SB11-173
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School Response Framework - School Safety Readiness Incident Management Plan Outline
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This modifiable 8-component checklist outlines the recommended requirements of CRS 22-32-109.1 including SB08-181 & SB11-173 (CSSRC | Update July 2018)
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Response Materials
- A Media Guide on the Reporting of School Tragedies
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A Media Guide on the Reporting of School Tragedies (Created by CSSRC)
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This guide summarizes the copy cat effect that media coverage can have on suicides and school shootings. Tips for covering school tragedies responsibly are presented.
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- Response: Emergency Actions for K-12 Schools
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Response: Emergency Actions for K-12 Schools (CSSRC: Updated)
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As part of a collaborative work group effort, and recently approved by the advisory board of the CSSRC, it is recommended that K-12 schools have protocols for five basic emergency actions to help ensure safety of all individuals on school site in the event of an actual emergency or for various crisis situations: lockdown, lockout (secured building), shelter-in-place (including weather shelter), evacuation, and a protocol for release and reunification of students to reunite them with parents/caregivers after an event.
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The document is intended as guidance to Colorado schools and recommends consultation and development of protocols with community emergency responders, customizing procedures as needed for individual school sites and developing plans for students and staff with special needs. In addition key messages include that all staff and students be trained through drill and practice, parents informed of protocols, and that schools review plans after all drills and actual events.
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- School Emergency Supplies and "Go Kits"
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School Emergency Supplies and "Go Kits"
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List of recommended materials for classrooms and administrators to maintain as "Go Kits," readily accessible, self-contained, portable stockpiles of emergency supplies.
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- Organizing A School Crisis Response
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Organizing A School Crisis Response
- A checklist of considerations for responding to a school crisis event.