Threat Assessment and Reporting

Identify and address threatening or concerning behaviors before they lead to violence.

Identifying, reporting, and addressing concerning student behaviors and other suspicious activities can help stop violence before it occurs. One practice schools may consider is the use of well-trained and diverse multidisciplinary school threat assessment teams. These teams should include certified mental health professionals and the approach should include providing the supports and interventions students need when they need them.

Schools may also establish a reporting system that is continually monitored and allows anonymous reporting to help members of the school community provide information on concerning behaviors or suspicious activities.

Use the filter below to sort resources available based upon stages of preparedness.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning about threat assessment and reporting. Use these resources to help implement a threat assessment and reporting system. Members of the school community can also download this SchoolSafety.gov infographic to learn more about threat assessment and reporting and access a sampling of resources.

Guidance

Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools

Department of Homeland Security, March 2021

The following study examines 67 disrupted plots against K-12 schools and highlights the importance of proactive reporting and intervention.

Guidance

Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model

Department of Homeland Security, July 2018

This guide provides actionable steps that schools can take to develop comprehensive targeted violence prevention plans and create processes and procedures for conducting threat assessments.

Training Program

REMS TA Center School Behavioral Threat Assessments: An Introduction

Department of Education

This training provides a one-day program designed to familiarize schools and school districts with school behavioral threat assessments in preventing and reducing targeted violence at K–12 schools.

Filter Resources

All Threat Assessment and Reporting Resources

The federal government identified additional resources that highlight strategies for school safety. Use these resources to learn more about threat assessment and reporting.

Report

School Tip Line Toolkit: A Blueprint for Implementation and Sustainability

Third Party, 2018

This downloadable guide is designed to help educators, law enforcement professionals, community leaders, and school safety experts navigate key decisions and consider the factors necessary to support successful and efficient tip line implementation as part of an overall school safety strategy.

Video

Averting Targeted School Violence Video

Department of Homeland Security, April 2023

This video highlights the findings and implications of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center's research on school violence prevention based upon the study, "Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools," which examined 67 disrupted plots against K-12 schools. It describes the thinking and behavior of the plotters, as well as their attack plans, how the plots were discovered, and how this information can be utilized to prevent violence in schools.

Tool

Incident Reporting (Public Act 551)

This tool allows schools and districts in Michigan to report an incident to the Michigan State Police Office of School Safety.