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FINAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COMMISSION ON School Safety Presented to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES December 18, 2018 Disclaimer Since the horrific February 14, 2018 In the pages that follow, the Com- many resources that educators, parents, shooting at Marjory Stoneman mission makes recommendations advocates, administrators, and other con- Douglas High School, the Trump that address multiple aspects of cerned parties may find helpful and use at Administration has devoted con- school safety. It does so based on the their discretion. The Departments do not control or guarantee the accuracy, rele- siderable time, resources, and insights, experiences, and expertise vance, timeliness, or completeness of this effort to studying ways to keep of a wide range of individuals. The outside information. Further, the inclusion our students safe and our schools recommendations are predicated of links to items and examples does not secure. The Federal Commission on on the policies already working in reflect their importance, nor are they School Safety was designed to both state and local communities. They intended to represent or be an endorse- research and recommend solutions outline steps we all can take—fami- ment by the Commission or any of its to advance the safety of our schools. lies, communities, schools, houses of members, any federal agency or depart- The Commission’s observations and worship, law enforcement, medical ment, or the U.S. Government of any views recommendations are contained in professionals, government, and expressed, or materials provided. this report. others. This document has no force or effect of The Commission recognizes that Each of us has a role to play in law and does not create any additional the problem of school violence is improving the safety of our students requirements for the public beyond those included in applicable laws and regula- long-standing and complex and that and the security of our schools. Only tions; nor does it create any additional there are certain limits to what the by working together can we help rights for any person, entity, or organi- federal government can do. This prevent future tragedies and, when zation. Implementation of the practices Commission was not established those incidents do occur, mitigate identified in this guide is purely voluntary, to provide a single solution to this their effects and continue to learn and no federal agency will take any action problem, nor did the Commissioners from them. against schools that do not adopt them. set out to mandate uniform policy to every community. In fact, it is The U.S. Departments of Education, our considered belief that doing so Justice, Homeland Security, and Health would prove counterproductive. and Human Services do not mandate There can be no “one-size-fits-all” or prescribe practices, models, or other approach for an issue this complex. activities in this document. This report contains examples of, adaptations of, and The shooting in Parkland, FL, was links to resources created and maintained not the first of its kind, nor is it likely by other public and private organizations. to be the last. This does not mean we This information, informed by research should give up on doing all we can to and gathered in part from practitioners, is minimize the chances that some- provided for the reader’s convenience and thing like that could happen again. is included here to offer examples of the 2 Federal Commission on School Safety: Prevent LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL December 18, 2018 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: Our nation’s schools must be safe places to learn. Sadly, incidents of school violence are too common in the United States, and far too many families and communities have suffered. Following the school shooting in Parkland, FL, you established the Federal Commission on School Safety. You tasked the Commission with producing a report of policy recommendations in an effort to help prevent future tragedies. Our work included field visits, listening sessions, and meetings with anyone and everyone who is focused on identifying and elevating solutions. After learning from students, parents, teachers, school safety person- nel, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, and others who play a role in keeping students safe, we have developed recommendations for leaders at the local, state, and federal levels. Our key observa- tions and recommendations are included in this report. Our goal has been to identify local, state, and federal policy for lawmakers and local officials to consider. The report’s recommendations can assist states and local communities in preventing school violence and improving recovery efforts following an incident. There is no universal school safety plan that will work for every school across the country. Such a prescriptive approach by the federal government would be inappropriate, imprudent, and ineffective. We focused instead on learning more about, and then raising awareness of, ideas that are already working for communities across the country. That is why the Commission’s work and recommendations focus on a variety of school sizes, structures, and geographic locations. The federal government can play a role in enhancing safety in schools. However, state legislators should work with local school leaders, teachers, parents, and students themselves to address their own unique challenges and develop their own specific solutions. What may work in one community may or may not be the right approach in another. Each local problem needs local solutions. Rather than mandate what schools must do, this report serves to identify options that policymakers should explore. Ultimately, ensuring the safety of our children begins within ourselves, at the kitchen table, in houses of worship, and in community centers. The recommendations within this report do not and cannot supplant the role families have in our culture and in the lives of children. Our country’s moral fabric needs more threads of love, empathy, and connection. Together with states, local communities, and families, we can all continue working to uphold our promise to keep students safe as they pursue their futures at school. Sincerely, Betsy DeVos, Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen, Secretary U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chair, Federal Commission on School Safety Alex M. Azar II, Secretary Matthew Whitaker, Acting Attorney General U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Justice page left intentionally blank 2 Federal Commission on School Safety Table of Contents Background .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Section 1: Prevent 1. Character Development and a Culture of Connectedness ........................................................................ 17 2. Cyberbullying and School Safety ................................................................................................................ 23 3. Curating a Healthier and Safer Approach: Issues of Mental Health and Counseling for Our Young ........ 27 4. Integrating Mental Health, Primary Care, Family Services, and Court-Ordered Treatment .................... 37 5. Using Suspicious Activity Reporting and Threat Assessments to Enhance School Safety ...................... 49 6. Effects of Press Coverage of Mass Shootings ............................................................................................. 59 7. Violent Entertainment and Rating Systems ............................................................................................... 63 8. The Obama Administration’s “Rethink School Discipline” Guidance ....................................................... 67 9. The Effectiveness and Appropriateness of Psychotropic Medication for Treatment of Troubled Youth .. 75 10. The Efficacy of Age Restrictions for Firearm Purchases ............................................................................. 85 11. Extreme Risk Protection Order Laws .......................................................................................................... 89 12. Improvements to the FBI’s Public Access Line ........................................................................................... 97 Section 2: Protect and Mitigate 13. Training School Personnel to Help Ensure Student Safety ...................................................................... 101 14. Emergency and Crisis Training for Law Enforcement .............................................................................. 109 15. The Transition of Military Veterans and Retired Law Enforcement Officers into New Careers in Education ......................................................................................................................... 113 16. Best Practices for School Building Security ............................................................................................. 119 17. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Other Statutory and Regulatory Privacy Protections ................................................................................................................ 129 18. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Other Statutory and Regulatory Privacy

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