Building a Risk Reporting Program? Start with 6 Questions

The vast majority of U.S. public K-12 schools reported leveraging some strong security practices in the 2019-2020 school year, including requiring visitors to sign or check in and wear badges (98 percent), drilling students on lockdown procedures (98 percent), controlling building access (97 percent), having a written plan describing active shooter scenario procedures (96 percent), and using security cameras to monitor the school (91 percent), according to a 2022 report from Pew Research Center.

However, only 66 percent of K-12 schools had provided a structured anonymous threat-reporting system, including an online submission form, phone tip line, or written submission form. This marked a significant spike from 2009-2010, when only 36 percent of schools gave students this reporting option, but reporting programs could still use expansion.

A recent report and toolkit from the U.S. Secret Service and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency outlines multiple decision points and factors that affect the efficiency of reporting mechanisms and students’ willingness to use them.