Visit the REMS TA Center Calendar to find trainings, Web chats, conferences, and other stakeholder activities and events for K-12 and higher ed practitioners on safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness topics. All events featured are FREE to participate in and range from virtual to in-person opportunities for engagement and professional development.

It is September, and not only is it back-to-school season, but it is also National Preparedness Month! The REMS TA Center invites your education agency to engage in planning and preparedness activities in observance of this annual stakeholder event. Find suggested ways to participate in National Preparedness Month below.

• Review the foundations of emergency operations plan (EOP) development and access key resources in our Building Blocks to School Safety Toolkit and in our updated K-12, school district, and institution of higher education (IHE) guidance pages.
• Review data from assessments to gain deeper understanding of the specific threats and hazards that may face your school or campus. Our free mobile app, SITE ASSESS, can be used to conduct a site assessment.
• Learn more about the purpose and benefits of emergency exercises, including functional exercises, and why to develop an after-action report.
• Increase engagement with the school or campus community online by using the National Preparedness Month Social Media Toolkit.

Visit the REMS TA Center’s NEW National Preparedness Month Web page to discover more resources and ways to participate!

Anonymous reporting systems allow members of school and campus communities to voice concerns about safety and student welfare without fear of retaliation or, for students, fear of being ostracized by peers for reporting. They can be an asset to education agencies, as ensuring anonymity in reporting systems may increase buy-in and trust with reporting. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.S. Secret Service in their recent K-12 bystander reporting toolkit describe the practice of ensuring anonymity as a key strategy for strengthening reporting systems and reducing hesitancy among potential reporters. Anonymous reporting systems can be established through tip lines, online forms, or mobile applications. To share more information about anonymous reporting systems, the REMS TA Center offers a podcast episode on Using Tip Lines to Prevent Potential Emergencies and a Security Resources Web page with an option to filter for resources on anonymous reporting.

To continue strengthening school and campus reporting systems, consider participating in “If You See Something, Say Something®” Awareness Day, also known as #SeeSayDay, on September 25. Led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this day represents an opportunity for schools and IHEs to raise awareness of their anonymous reporting systems and to educate community members on when and how to make a report if they witness suspicious activity. To participate in this stakeholder activity, DHS provides social media graphics, posts, and videos.

Schools can be vulnerable to the accidental release of hazardous materials in art classrooms, storage closets, and other areas of campus due to leaks and exposure to lead, pesticides and fertilizers, cleaning and art supplies, etc. Additionally, toxic materials, such as concentrated acids and bases, solvents, oxidizers, compressed gases, and mercury, may be present in school laboratories. These biological and technological hazards can pose significant health and environmental risks to the entire school community. Developing an EOP that addresses hazardous chemicals is key for responsible chemical waste management and maintaining a safe learning environment.

The REMS TA Center released a NEW publication, Chemical Management: Planning for Toxic Materials in School Laboratories and the Accidental Release of Hazardous Materials From Within the School. It explores an incident within a school that involved a mercury spill and offers lessons learned from the incident. This includes activities that schools can implement: collaborate with partners to develop strategies for managing chemicals; provide consistent training; prepare information to be shared by the Public Information Officer; and address chemicals in the school EOP. Additionally, the case study offers best practices for schools to prepare for toxic and hazardous chemicals: develop hazard-specific annexes; train students on how to handle chemicals; conduct site assessments; allocate resources; and establish a partnership with media representatives.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multidisciplinary strategy for deterring criminal behavior and protecting a community. It is grounded in the idea that the environment can impact response to crime and social control, so changes to the environment can reduce opportunities for criminal behavior. Utilizing CPTED in the education setting can help promote school and campus safety and security. To support schools and IHEs in implementing CPTED strategies in their emergency management planning, the REMS TA Center has released two NEW fact sheets for K-12 and higher ed audiences:

• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: Enhancing the Security of Your K-12 School Using an All-Hazards Approach
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: Enhancing the Security of Your IHE Using an All-Hazards Approach

Each fact sheet provides an overview of CPTED principles, describes its application to school and campus safety, and offers strategies for implementing CPTED including samples for each CPTED principle. Use these publications to learn more about natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, management and maintenance, social cohesion, connectivity, threshold capacity, and community culture, and enhance your education agency’s security and preparedness.

The REMS TA Center maintains a cadre of subject matter experts (SMEs) who have extensive knowledge and skills in school and higher ed safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness. SMEs complement the TA and training work of the REMS TA Center and the U.S. Department of Education. Examples of SME contributions include delivering live training sessions, presenting in Webinars, developing written products and resources, testing new tools, and serving on working groups to provide input on emerging needs.

Are you interested in becoming a REMS TA Center SME and providing critical information to the field? If yes, please send an email with your resume and bio for consideration. These documents will help us understand your skills, areas of expertise, and availability. Once these documents are received and reviewed by the U.S. Department of Education, you will be contacted by the REMS TA Center for next steps.