Fostering Safer Schools: A Legal Guide for School Board Members on School Safety

The overarching goal of schools is to create a safe, supportive environment where students can thrive and learn. This begins with a dedication to students' social and emotional well-being, and effective policies and programs that create a culture of trust. Such a culture provides an optimal learning environment, and is also a proactive step towards avoiding conflict, violence, and legal liability. But to do school safety right is a herculean task that touches virtually every aspect of school policy and operations, and extends well beyond into the community at large, including every level of government, public safety agencies, community services programs, private agencies, places of faith, social research arms, families, and students themselves. No one resource can address every issue or question about keeping children safe. This updated guide provides a renewed look, through a legal lens, at key areas of concern that have emerged as looming issues that need attention as schools work to improve school safety. These include student mental health, crisis management, working with law enforcement, and legal liability. There are many issues that are not addressed here that will affect the decisions that school board members have to make to keep students safe. For example, this guide does not discuss building security, a key component of a school safety plan. The guide is intended as a primer for school boards and school leaders to begin their exploration into this important subject. The guide is designed to give school board members, as policy-makers for the district, an overview of: (1) schools' legal obligations and liability concerns; (2) best practices; and (3) available resources. [For the addendum, "COVID-19: Preparing for Widespread Illness in Your School Community. A Legal Guide for School Leaders. A Companion Guide to Fostering Safer Schools," see ED626161.]