DHS School Safety Advisory Board, AI Deepfake Protection, and the latest in grants and legislation

Welcome to the Back-to-School edition of School Safety Today!??

As the flurry of back-to-school activities takes center stage, school safety efforts are gaining momentum as well.?This season, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board, alongside the DEFIANCE Act, showcases key federal initiatives designed to implement vital safety protocols in schools across the nation.?

Additionally, be sure to watch for upcoming funding application deadlines—these opportunities are instrumental in advancing and securing school safety infrastructures. Learn more below!?

Let’s dive in!?

The term discipline often conjures images of punishment, with the belief that such measures will alter behavior. However, research and deeper understanding show that discipline alone is not the key to influencing behavior. It's crucial to recognize that behavior is just the visible tip of the iceberg; what drives it lies beneath the surface and often stems from issues unrelated to school, such as past trauma, unmet basic needs, or mental health concerns. ??

While enforcing consequences is necessary, relying solely on punitive measures without addressing the underlying causes fails to tackle the root of the issue. In reality, the symptoms typically emerge well before the behavior culminates in the need for disciplinary action. ?

A more effective approach is to not only pay attention to the smaller concerns but have a way in which to gather these low-level concerns from all educators that interact with the student. It is through gathering all the pieces, interventions can be provided before behavior reaches a level in need of discipline.? ?

~Dr. Amy Grosso?

About A Closer Look: New SIGMA Behavioral Threat Assessment Training ?

"Behavioral threat assessment (BTA) is a fact-finding process that has been used for decades to prevent acts of targeted violence. It was first developed by the Secret Service and FBI and later adapted for workplaces, colleges, and K-12 schools. It is possible to prevent school shootings because school shooters don't "just snap;" instead, they plan out their violent attacks in advance and display behaviors that show that they are in crisis and planning something harmful. Behavioral threat assessment is the best available tool to figure out if there is a risk of violence and how best to mitigate it.

It is possible to mitigate risk and prevent violence. In fact, caring about and helping a student who is at risk of violence can make a significant difference in a student's life—and help get them off the pathway to violence and onto a better path.”

Dr. Marisa Randazzo, Executive Director of Threat Assessments, Raptor Technologies?

DHS Announces New Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the formation of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board , a pioneering group of school safety experts and education leaders. This board will provide crucial advice and recommendations aimed at enhancing K-12 school safety and security across the United States.??

Chaired by Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the board comprises a diverse array of members including education, health, public safety, cybersecurity, and civil rights experts. Their collective goal is to advise the Secretary of Homeland Security on evidence-based school safety practices and propose new best practices for SchoolSafety.gov .??

It will convene in Fall 2024 for its first meeting, and it has begun sharing key resources for school safety.

DEFIANCE Act of 2024: Strengthening Student Protection from AI Deepfakes.??

The recently introduced DEFIANCE Act of 2024 (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images And Non-Consensual Edits Act) is set to enhance digital safety for minors and vulnerable individuals. This bipartisan bill, currently referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, aims to address the growing issue of non-consensual digital forgeries and unauthorized disclosures of intimate images.?

Key Provisions:?

• Legal Definitions and Protections: The bill defines "digital forgery" as any intimate visual depiction of an identifiable individual created through digital means that appears indistinguishable from an authentic depiction. ?

• Civil Actions and Relief: It allows individuals, including minors represented by their legal guardians, to bring civil actions against those responsible for creating or distributing these digital forgeries. ?

• Federal Jurisdiction: By emphasizing that actions in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce fall under its jurisdiction, the bill ensures comprehensive protection across state lines and international boundaries.?

The bill extends protections to minors and other vulnerable individuals by allowing their legal guardians to bring civil actions on their behalf. Additionally, by addressing these forms of digital exploitation, the bill also tackles related issues such as cyberbullying , providing schools and guardians with stronger tools to protect students from various forms of online harassment and abuse.?

California School Safety Initiatives?

California is advancing several legislative measures to bolster student safety:?

• Senate Bill 1063: Mandates printing the 988 Lifeline on ID cards for grades 7-12 by July 2025. Awaiting a third Senate reading.?

• Assembly Bill 1858: Requires schools to develop active assailant response plans. Pending third reading in the Senate.?

• Assembly Bill 2565: Calls for interior locks in new or renovated classrooms. Set for a third reading.?

• Senate Bill 1318: Strengthens suicide prevention policies with crisis protocols and regular updates. Awaits third Senate reading.?

• Assembly Bill 960: Promotes app-based safety programs with digital tools. Passed Senate; awaiting Assembly concurrence.?

State Mental Health Initiatives?

Important legislative efforts are being made to address student mental health needs . The latest such bills advancing through legislation include:?

• Mississippi Senate Bill 2727 : Establishes a task force to evaluate mental health challenges and resources for students from K-12 to postsecondary education. This bill was successfully enacted on April 22, 2024.?

• Delaware House Bill 200 : Allocates funding for mental health services in schools, outlining specific ratios for mental health professionals. Enacted on August 7, 2024, this initiative aims to ensure adequate support for students.?

These measures reflect a growing commitment to improving mental health resources and support systems for students nationwide.?

Protecting Campuses from Sex Offenders?

Efforts to safeguard schools from sex offenders are also gaining traction across the country. ?

• Massachusetts Senate Bill 1040 : Aims to improve hiring practices in schools by preventing employment of individuals with a sexual misconduct history. Currently, the bill is under further study by the Judiciary Committee as of July 31, 2024.?

• Michigan House Bill 5507 : Implements stringent background checks for positions involving children to prevent sex offenders from being employed in such roles. The bill has been approved by the Governor, filed with the Secretary of State on July 23, 2024, and is now in effect.?

These initiatives represent vital steps in securing safe educational environments against potential threats.?

Upcoming deadlines!?

The Massachusetts FY2025 Rethinking Discipline Initiative will provide approximately $1.5M to support eligible public-school districts and charter schools in creating a school climate and culture which supports students’ academic and social emotional wellbeing. Allowable expenses include: ?

• Selecting vendors that can help to implement practices and models that reduce exclusionary discipline, ?

• Identify concerns/challenges in the realm of discipline, ?

• Track measures of success, and more. ?

The deadline to apply for this grant is Friday, August 30, 2024 by 5 p.m. EST.?

The 2024-25 Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools Program will provide a total of $19,665,000 to non-public schools, as well as municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and approved vendors to address school violence and mental health. Allowable expenses include: ?

• Conducting emergency preparedness drills and related activities with local emergency responders, ?

• Special emergency communications equipment, ?

• Institution of student, staff, and visitor identification systems, ?

• The establishment of threat assessment teams, ?

• Costs associated with training school security personnel, and more. ?

The deadline to apply for this grant is September 26, 2024. ?

The 2024-25 School Safety & Mental Health Grants will provide $100 million to school entities throughout Pennsylvania to support physical security enhancements and behavioral health improvements. Allowable expenses include: ?

• Conducting emergency preparedness drills and related activities with local emergency responders, ?

• Special emergency communications equipment, ?

• Institution of student, staff, and visitor identification systems, ?

• The establishment of threat assessment teams, ?

• Costs associated with training school security personnel, and more. ?

The deadline to apply for this grant is September 26, 2024. ?

Virginia: Up to $250,000 per fiscal year per awardee is available via the School Security Equipment Grants (SSEG) Program and a total of $18.5M (state and federal funding combined) is available via the School Safety and Security Grants (SSSG) . Allowable expenses for both grants include:?

• Technology hardware equipment to support mass notifications systems, ?

• Visitor I.D. badging systems, ?

• Security panic systems, and more.??

The deadline to apply for the SSEG Program was 8/1/2024. ?

For the SSSG, schools have until 1/31/2026 to submit reimbursement requests from the other $8M that consists of federal pandemic recovery funds.?

The North Dakota 2024-2025 Behavioral Health School Grant Funding will provide $1.5M to school districts and special education units throughout North Dakota to address student behavioral health needs. Allowable expenses include: ?

• Early intervention screenings and assessments, ?

• Prevention and early intervention services and supports, and more. ?

The deadline to apply for this grant is March 31, 2025. ?

November 5th -6th

2024 Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference

The 2024 Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference was created with school safety advocates in mind and designed for professionals looking to level-up their school safety plan and find inspiration to transform their approach to school safety. With over 60 small and interactive sessions, you will gain invaluable knowledge and actionable strategies to enhance your school safety protocols, mitigate risks, address rising mental health concerns, detect student issues sooner, respond effectively to emergencies, and engage your community.

Register here

Sep 24-25?

GASROE Executive Seminar September?

Savannah, GA?

Oct 9-10?

National Conference on Active School Threats – WEST?

Seattle, WA? Embassy Suites by Hilton?

More Info ?