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Resources Available to Assist K-12 Schools with Emergency Planning
The Michigan State Police (MSP) Office of School Safety (OSS) has released new resources to assist the state’s K-12 schools with developing and/or updating their Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). An EOP details the actions that students, teachers, school staff, emergency responders, and community organizations should take before, during, and after a variety of emergency situations.
Michigan law requires all K-12 school buildings to have an EOP that is reviewed on a biennial basis. The MSP previously published EOP guidance in 2014.
“There have been many changes in the school safety arena over the past ten years and we want to make sure our schools are benefiting from the most up-to-date guidance as they develop and review their emergency operations plans,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “These updated, easy-to-use tools were reviewed by a multi-disciplinary panel of professionals from the emergency management, law enforcement, education and mental health sectors and include best practices for multiple emergency situations.”
Information from federal agencies was referenced in developing the new tools, including resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center. Additionally, the OSS partnered with the national nonprofit “I Love U Guys” Foundation to utilize their Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method.
The new resources can be found on the OSS website. The OSS is housed within the Grants and Community Services Division (GCSD) of the MSP.
This project was funded by a 2019 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, STOP School Violence Grant awarded to the MSP GCSD.
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Safe Gun Storage
The Michigan State Police GCSD has free gun locks available to Michigan schools for distribution to students, families and staff members. Intermediate school districts and regional education service agencies are encouraged to organize requests from schools and then submit a combined request (in multiples of 25) to MSP-SchoolSafety@michigan.gov. The email must come from the superintendent. Gun locks are also available for charter and non-public schools throughout the state and individual districts if necessary.
Gun lock installation instructions in both English and Spanish are included with the product and are also available on the Project ChildSafe website.
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Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities (December 18, 2024; February 19, 2025; April 16, 2025): These virtual training events, hosted by the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), will cover findings from NTAC’s research on mass attacks perpetrated in public and semi-public spaces, including businesses, houses of worship, schools, and more. This training will also provide guidance on how communities may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model.
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Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools
Anonymous threats, including those made on social media, place a strain on school and law enforcement resources, resulting in lost instructional time and causing trauma within school communities. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools aims to support local education agencies, along with law enforcement and community partners, in developing customized strategies to address anonymous threats, from assessment through response. This guide is designed for K-12 schools across the U.S. and is applicable to a wide range of school settings, student demographics, and levels of experience in emergency operations planning.
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Grants and Funding Opportunities
The Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP) Grant Application Process for Gun Violence Intervention Programs
The MSP GCSD will soon be accepting grant applications for Phase 3 of the Byrne SCIP grant. Byrne SCIP furthers the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance mission of achieving safer communities by assisting state, local, and tribal efforts to prevent or reduce crime and violence, particularly gun violence.
An informational webinar hosted December 4, 2024, is available on the MSP Byrne SCIP website. This webinar provides information on application requirements, grant eligibility, program areas, allowable and unallowable expenses and activities, and reporting requirements. Prospective applicants are asked to visit the MSP Byrne SCIP website for important pre-release application information. The application, available January 6, 2025, will also be located on the MSP Byrne SCIP website and must be submitted to the GCSD on or before 12 p.m. (noon) EST, February 14, 2025. Questions can be emailed to MSP-CJGrants@michigan.gov.
Visit the SchoolSafety.gov Grants Finder Tool for additional school safety-related funding opportunities.
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Registration Now Open for the 2024-2025 School Year!
Deadline Extended to January 31, 2025
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The MSP is excited to announce that registration is now open for the Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) program.
The STEP program provides teachers with emergency preparedness materials at no cost to the school. These materials include an instructor guide and overview, an activity book, supplemental lessons and activities, videos, and printable resources. These materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/STEP and contain up to eight hours of instruction. The STEP curriculum can be taught by teachers, school officials, first responders, or volunteers.
This program helps students understand disasters, builds confidence in their ability to help, and gives them an opportunity to work with family and loved ones to create plans to stay safe. Since the start of STEP in 2011, Michigan educators have partnered with the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division to educate more than 100,000 students on the importance of preparedness. For years, this partnership has been invaluable to our community, and we need you to help us keep it going. While the curriculum is still provided free of charge, emergency preparedness starter kits are no longer included due to funding constraints. We understand the change may be disappointing, however, the curriculum that supports this program continues to be the most essential component for preparing our youth.
If you have any questions about the STEP curriculum, please contact Ms. Jane Troutman at troutmanj@michigan.gov.
www.michigan.gov/STEP
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What Works in Schools
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helps promote adolescent health and wellbeing. What Works in Schools is an approach to school-based health that has been shown to improve health behaviors and experiences, support mental health, and reduce suicidality in schools that implement the program. The program supports the implementation of quality health education for middle and high school students.
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Building Schools That Are Inclusive and Empowering
In August 2024, the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Education introduced updated Title IX regulations, strengthening protections against sex discrimination in federally funded education. To further support LGBTQ+ students and educators and promote inclusivity in public education, the National Education Association has developed an LGBTQ+ Support and Protection toolkit and resources for schools and classrooms that complement these updated Title IX rules.
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Michigan School Resource Officer Grant Program Highlights
In July 2022, the Michigan legislature appropriated $25 million to fund School Resource Officer (SRO) positions in Michigan K-12 public schools, to be administered by the MSP GCSD OSS. In January 2023, the Governor’s office announced the grant awards which funded nearly 200 new SRO positions in schools across the state.
SROs work to improve school safety and promote a positive school climate. This often happens one student at a time. Two grantees recently shared the following success stories:
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Superintendent DeeDee Thill from Big Bay de Noc School in the Upper Peninsula shared the following about Deputy VanDrese: “Our SRO, Deputy VanDrese, conducted summer bike trainings for our younger students. He volunteered to chaperone the senior class trip which included three nights, four days. Deputy VanDrese follows and actively supports our athletic teams. During this reporting period he frequently attended golf and track meets and assisted in the running of those meets. These relationship-building tasks with students are vital to creating a trusting environment.”
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Superintendent Sharon Smith from Sand Creek Community Schools shared the following: “I love the success Officer Ben has had with just developing the relationships with students. Often I will see him sitting down, eating lunch with students. He is also making his way through the elementary school, visiting classrooms and reading a story about an SRO police officer. Developing these relationships was at the top of our list for our SRO and he is doing a great job with this. Officer Ben is also coordinating our work with the township police and fire departments to compete our EOP and our Emergency Response Preparation plan.”
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If You Feel Something, Say Something!
It’s the season of giving, and the OSS was recently inspired by some kind words shared by a grantee. A School Resource Officer Grant Program award recipient wrote: “The folks associated with the Office of School Safety are awesome to work with and promptly answer any questions I have.” This outward display of appreciation warmed our hearts and got us thinking: The world is busy this time of year, but a small gesture or affirmation can make someone’s day. The OSS is encouraging everyone to spread kindness by showing the people in your community and district your appreciation. If you feel something, say something!
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Use of Student Safety Tiplines Surge After Tragic Events
The Ripple Effect of Tragedy
In the wake of high-profile school shootings and other violent incidents, student safety tiplines like OK2SAY experience a significant surge in tips. This spike reflects a complex interplay of factors, including heightened awareness, empowerment, fear, increased scrutiny, and unfortunately, copycat threats.
Why Tipline Usage Rises
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Heightened Awareness: Tragic events ignite conversations about school safety, prompting students and communities to become more vigilant and proactive in reporting concerning behaviors.
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Empowerment: Tiplines provide a safe and confidential platform for students to voice their concerns, encouraging them to become active participants in maintaining a secure learning environment.
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Fear and Anxiety: Traumatic events can heighten fear and anxiety, leading students to report even minor incidents out of concern for their safety and the safety of others.
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Increased Scrutiny: Schools and law enforcement agencies tend to intensify their safety protocols in the wake of a tragedy. Schools and law enforcement encourage everyone to be extra vigilant and use the OK2SAY tipline.
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Copycat Threats: Unfortunately, some individuals may attempt to emulate the actions of perpetrators, leading to an increase in threats and hoaxes.
Maximizing Tipline Effectiveness
To fully harness the potential of student safety tiplines, schools and law enforcement agencies are encouraged to implement the following strategies.
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Promote Tipline Awareness: Regular communication with students, staff, and parents about the importance of using the tipline can foster a culture of safety and vigilance.
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Emphasize Confidentiality: Reinforcing the confidential nature of tips can reassure students that their concerns will be handled with respect and privacy.
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Provide Comprehensive Training: OK2SAY offers free student safety presentations to equip school staff and students with the knowledge and skills to recognize and report concerning behaviors.
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Ensure Swift Response: Promptly investigating credible tips is crucial to maintain trust in the system and address potential threats quickly and decisively.
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Cultivate a Culture of Safety: Schools should foster open communication where students feel comfortable reporting concerns without fear of retaliation or judgment.
By adopting these strategies, schools and communities can empower students to become active participants in creating safer, more supportive learning environments and help prevent future tragedies.
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 School Track Day is Wednesday, May 7, 2025
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