Comprehensive School Safety
Policies Addressing Comprehensive School Safety
The nationwide response to the school shootings represents a potential turning point in how policy makers are responding to calls for efforts to improve school safety and prevent school violence. The need for more school psychologists and other school-employed mental health professionals has been at the forefront of the national conversation, as has the need for more effective gun safety laws. NASP believes that efforts to improve school safety must address the continuum of school safety issues, and is working to effectively use the momentum behind this issue to increase access to school-based mental and behavioral health services and work toward implementing coordinated and comprehensive school safety efforts.
Your Voice Matters
Below are a set of resources to help individuals and state associations advocate for the recommended policies and practices to improve school safety. You are encouraged to consult these resources to help you organize and plan for your professional and/or legislative advocacy activities. These materials can, and should, be adapted to meet the unique needs of your local communities and states. For information and resources relating to basic advocacy skills, check out NASP's Policy Playbook.
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Gun Violence Research Summary
This document summarizes existing data that indicates the need for improved strategies that keep guns out of the hands of children and youth and those who would harm them. … more
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Framework for Safe and Successful Schools
The Framework for Safe and Successful Schools is the result of collaboration among NASP, the American School Counselor Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals , National Association of School Resource Officers, and School Social Work Association of America. This document provides a framework, supported by over a hundred state and national organizations, for improving school safety and increasing access to mental health supports for children and youths. … more
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Key Messages and Talking Points for School Psychologists Regarding School Safety
These key messages and talking points can be used in your advocacy efforts to create a safer and healthier school climate at the local, state and national level. … more
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School Climate and Safety Model State Legislation One Pager
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School Climate and Safety Model State Legislation
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Position Statement - School Violence Prevention
NASP's official position statement on school violence prevention … more
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Resolution to Support Efforts to Prevent Gun Violence
NASP's leadership approved this resolution in support of efforts to prevent gun violence. … more
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Policy Recommendations
This document offers policy recommendations to implementing the Framework for Safe and Successful Schools … more
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Assessing the Climate
This informal assessment can be used to identify policies and practices represented in the Framework that are currently being implemented and systems in need of change to better support school and student safety. … more
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Current Landscape
This resource discusses the current policy and political landscape of school safety. … more
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Best Practice Considerations for Schools in Active Shooter and Other Armed Assailant Drills
This resource discusses considerations to keep in mind when preparing for active shooter and armed assailant drills. … more
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Policy Playbook
NASP's Policy Playbook, completed and released in 2019, was created to provide tips, advice, and best practices on how to fulfill one of the most important aspects of being a school psychologist: advocacy.