Division & School Safety

• Prevention – actions schools take to prevent an emergency incident
• Protection – steps taken to secure schools against manmade or natural disasters and acts of violence
• Mitigation – actions taken to eliminate or reduce the loss of property and life by lessening the impact of an emergency
• Response – steps taken to stabilize an emergency once it has occurred
• Recovery – actions taken to restore the learning environment

Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) are developed in collaboration with division administrators, school personnel, rescue personnel, firefighters, law enforcement, hospital personnel, counselors, psychologist, social workers, parents and other community stakeholders. Students and staff practice evacuating, locking-down and sheltering-in-place drills to ready themselves in case an incident occurs. Annually, data is collected and analyzed to improve building security and emergency plans.

The Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety collaborate to collect, analyze and disseminate data that can be used to update and improve EOP. Additionally, professional development and technical assistance opportunities, publications, and other resources are provided to assist school divisions and communities in sustaining safe school environments.

Reports & Requirements at a Glance

• Reports & Requirements At a Glance | Virginia Department of Education (govaccess.org)

Divisionwide Safety Audit Committee

• Guidance on Divisionwide Safety Audit Committee and Responsibilities

Emergency Managers

• Guidance on Emergency Manager Designee
• Helpful Hints for School Emergency Management -REMS
• Guidance for School Systems in the Event that Victims Arise From an Emergency

Division & School Safety Audit Survey/Reports

• Guidance on School Safety Inspection Checklist
  • 2016 School Safety Inspection Checklist for Virginia Public Schools (PDF)
• Divisionwide School Safety Survey
• Virginia School Crisis Management Plan Review and Certification

Threat Assessment

• Guidance on Threat Assessment Team Formation and Reporting
• Threat Assessment in Virginia Public Schools:  Models Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines

Protective Orders

• Guidance and Model Policy for the Notification of Protective Orders in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (Word)

Emergency Operation Procedures/Crisis Management

• Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Guidelines for Schools (PDF)
• First Aid Guide for School Emergencies (PDF)
• DCJS Intruder/Active Shooter: Critical Incident Response Guide and Video
  • Critical Incident Response - Accompanying Manual
  • Critical Incident Response Video

Crisis & Emergency Planning

• School Crisis, Emergency Management and Medical Emergency Response Plan
• School Crisis, Emergency Management and Medical Emergency Response Plan-Quick Guide
• Virginia Educator’s Drill Guide
• Virginia Schools Bus Driver and Monitor Safety and Security Manual (Word)
• Virginia Schools Bus Driver and Monitor Safety and Security Manual (PDF)
• Virginia School Bus Driver and Monitor Video

Other Resources & Publications

Virginia State Department of:

• Behavioral Health & Developmental Services
• Criminal Justice Services: Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety
  • School Safety Audit Survey Results
  • Juvenile Law Handbook 2013
• Emergency Management
  • Family Assistance Center Services
• Environmental Quality
• Health
  • Virginia Youth Survey
  • Youth Violence and Bullying Prevention
  • Virginia Injury and Violence Data
  • Injury Prevention
  • Safe Schools and Safe Students in Virginia
  • Social Services

Other Virginia Resources

• University of Virginia – Youth Violence Project

Federal

• Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS)
• Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operation Plans (PDF) 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Injury Prevention & Control – About School Violence

Persistently Dangerous Schools

VDOE monitors data on violence and criminal acts in schools to identify schools in need of technical assistance to improve safety and create climates conducive to teaching and learning. Schools at risk of being identified as “persistently dangerous” under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (also known as No Child Left Behind) are monitored in an effort to address and correct those areas posing risks within the schools.

• Persistently Dangerous Schools Identification Process and Criteria (PDF) – Adopted by the Virginia Board of Education, April 29, 2003.

The Virginia Board of Education’s statewide policy on students attending a “persistently dangerous” school or who become victims of violent crime while in or on the grounds of a public school is to provide those students with the opportunity to attend a safe school within the school division.

• Persistantly Dangerous Schools & Unsafe School Choice Option Policy (PDF) – A VDOE Board of Education policy.