Office of School Safety Completes Seventh and Final Youth Violence Prevention Summit

The Michigan State Police (MSP) held its final Youth Violence Prevention Summit in Alpena, marking seven total summits held since last April, reaching nearly 800 high school students across the state. In addition to the summit in Alpena, summits were held in Warren, Flint, Grand Rapids, Livonia, Lansing, and Detroit.

Organized and hosted by the Office of School Safety (OSS), this one-day collaborative forum provided high school students with the opportunity to interact with law enforcement, mental health professionals and others for student-focused lessons and discussions on violence prevention, digital safety, mental health, and leadership.

Results from post-event surveys show that 100 percent of students who completed the survey said the youth summit was helpful to their understanding of school safety, youth violence and/or mental health, and 99.5 percent of students said they learned something new at the youth summit. Further, most students identified suicide prevention themes as the most meaningful takeaways from the summit.

"Ensuring the safety and well-being of our young people remains one of our highest priorities," said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. "I attended each of these summits because I feel strongly that we must involve students and give them a voice when it comes to developing solutions for safer schools and communities.” 

Funding for the Youth Violence Prevention Summits came from an FY23 appropriation to the School Safety and Mental Health Commission.

All new School Safety Academies Planned for Summer and Fall

The Michigan School Safety Academy (Mi-SSA) is back with brand new content and dynamic sessions. This year’s programs will explore suicide prevention and wellness, emerging state and local trends in adolescent substance use, behavioral and digital threat assessment, emergency operations planning, and the latest in school safety law. We are excited to welcome a mix of new and returning speakers for two days of impactful learning.

Mark your calendars. Registration and venue location information coming soon!

• August 18-19, 2026 Bay College, Escanaba
• September 15-16, 2026 Kalamazoo County Area
• October 20-21, 2026 Wayne County Area
• November 17-18, 2026 University of Michigan, Flint

Visit the Michigan School Safety Academy page for more information.

School Safety and Mental Health Commission Update

Public Act 263 of 2024 and Executive Order 2025-1 established the School Safety and Mental Health Commission. Details regarding the commission, its meeting schedule, and current members are available on the Commission webpage. The most recent meeting of the commission was March 18, 2026. Meeting minutes are available online.

Legislative Compliance Reminders

Public Act 271 of 2024, effective April 2, 2025, tasks MSP with establishing standardized terminology in collaboration with the School Safety and Mental Health Commission, and providing the terminology to public schools, nonpublic schools, and local law enforcement agencies, with a deadline of July 1, 2026.

Public Act 272 of 2024, effective April 2, 2025, amends the Revised School Code to require public and nonpublic schools to ensure each school has a behavior threat assessment and management team. These teams are tasked with, among other things, defining prohibited and concerning behavior; monitoring, assessing, and performing inquiries into concerning behavior; and developing a written plan to assist a student who is engaging in concerning behavior. Schools are required to have these teams operational by October 1, 2026.

Public Act 401 of 2020 requires every Michigan public and nonpublic school to provide MSP with at least one school official's emergency contact information biannually. This after-hours contact information allows OK2SAY technicians to efficiently communicate with school personnel about potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, employees, and schools. The contact information is kept strictly confidential and is only accessed by technicians in the event of an after-hours emergency involving imminent danger to the safety or well-being of a student. If your school has not yet done so, please provide this critical emergency contact information immediately by visiting the OK2SAY website and navigating to the Register School Contacts section.

Public Act 436 of 2018 requires that every school district, intermediate school, or public-school academy — and at least one local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction — conduct a biennial review of its emergency operations plan (EOP), including a vulnerability assessment. Schools and districts must notify the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) within 30 days after completing the review or adopting a new or updated EOP.

Bomb Threat Checklist

Whether the bomb threat is made via phone, handwritten note, email, or other means, the Department of Homeland Security Bomb Threat Checklist provides instructions on how to respond to a bomb threat as well as a comprehensive list of information that will assist law enforcement in a bomb threat investigation. Click here to download the checklist.

Additional information can be found on the OSS website under School Safety Resources. Information about bomb threats & swatting, training videos, suspicious and unattended items, and identifying suspicious activity are provided.

Effective October 1, 2025, Michigan Public Act 258 of 2024 requires every public and private school to annually inform parents and legal guardians about secure firearm storage practices. In March 2026, the National Center for School Safety released a Michigan-specific school communication toolkit for securing firearms. Each year, schools must distribute the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Safe Storage Notice, by mail or electronically, to every parent or legal guardian of each enrolled student. The notice includes a summary of Michigan’s secure firearm storage law, answers to common questions about secure firearm storage, and information on where to obtain free or low-cost gun locks and safes.

This toolkit on secure firearm storage goes beyond basic compliance. It is a key component of a comprehensive strategy to prevent youth violence and suicide while strengthening school safety. Schools are uniquely positioned to share this life-saving information in ways families can easily understand and put into practice. Download the toolkit below.

GUN LOCKS

Free gun safety locks for distribution to students, families, and staff are available through the MSP Grants and Community Services Division. Please email MSP-SchoolSafety@michigan.gov with the requested amount (in multiples of 25), a contact name, and the name and address of the school. The email must come from the principal or superintendent.

Finishing Strong, Staying Safe: Supporting Students Through Year-End Stress

As the school year winds down, the energy in the school building begins to shift. While there is plenty of excitement for summer, the final weeks often bring mounting pressure from exams, final projects, and the social transitions that come with ending a grade level. This period of high stress can leave many students feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable. This is an important time to remind students they are not alone and that help is available.

Why a Year-End Reminder Matters

• A lifeline during high stress. Increased pressure can appear as anxiety, withdrawal, or concerning behavior. OK2SAY provides a confidential, safe way for students to speak up for themselves or for a friend.
• Support beyond school walls. When school ends, support systems can feel less visible. OK2SAY is available 24/7/365, so students always have a place to turn—even during the summer.
• Empowering students to take action. A simple reminder can give students the confidence to report concerns. Encouraging reports before the school year ends can help ensure peers in distress receive support before situations escalate.

Help Us Finish Strong

We encourage Michigan schools to make a focused effort to promote OK2SAY during these closing weeks. Small actions can have a big impact:

• Schedule a free student safety presentation for your school.
• Highlight OK2SAY in morning announcements.
• Include information in newsletters and end-of-year communications.
• Reinforce the message during classroom discussions.
• Display OK2SAY posters and stickers in high-traffic areas. Ensure counselors and staff have OK2SAY contact cards and brochures available.
• Add OK2SAY information to learning management systems (e.g., PowerSchool, Canvas, Schoology, Google Classroom).
• Use free OK2SAY digital promotional items to advertise the program.

Every reminder matters. Each message helps build a school culture where students feel empowered to speak up and support one another.

MSP Safety Day: Returning July 28, 2026

MSP is hosting its annual Safety Day on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the MSP Headquarters, 7150 Harris Drive, Dimondale. (*Rain date of Wednesday, July 29, 2026)

This free, outdoor event is open to everyone and features numerous safety-related programs including:

• MSP Child and Vulnerable Adult ID Station
• MSP Angel Program
• SafeKids Child Safety Seat Inspection Station
• OK2SAY
• Bicycle, Vulnerable Pedestrians, and Personal Safety Station
• ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children)
• Hidden in Plain Sight Display Trailer
• Sinas Dramis Law "Lids for Kids"

And much more!

Please share with families and your summer programming coordinators. This event makes for a great field trip!

Contact the Office of School Safety

Email:  MSP-SchoolSafety@michigan.gov

Website:  www.michigan.gov/officeofschoolsafety