Behavioral Threat Assessment Basics and Resources for K-12

In its 2023-2024 School Pulse Survey, the U.S. Department of Education found that, of public K-12 schools with a behavioral threat assessment team, 49 percent identified students posing a potential threat to others and 71 percent identified students posing a potential threat to themselves. This finding highlights the importance of behavioral threat assessments for emergency prevention and intervention at K-12 schools and school districts. Continue reading to learn more about behavioral threat assessments, where they fit within K-12 emergency operation plans (EOPs), and REMS TA Center resources on this important topic.

What is a behavioral threat assessment? This type of assessment evaluates if a person poses a threat to themselves or others. It can be conducted in response to concerning actions or communications on or off campus, including those observed on social media or reported through an anonymous tip line. The goal of this assessment is to prevent a possible threat from developing into an emergency and to ensure that individuals involved are referred for the appropriate services. Behavioral threat assessments must be based on facts and stay in compliance with all privacy, civil rights, and other applicable laws.

How are behavioral threat assessments used in EOP planning? Step 2 of the planning process for developing high-quality EOPs involves understanding the threats and hazards that may impact a school or school district. At this stage, data from behavioral threat assessments conducted as needed throughout the year can be analyzed for trends. These may elicit information on threats that the school is vulnerable to, which the EOP planning team can then prioritize in the development and revision of the EOP.

How can behavioral threats be addressed within an EOP? The Role of Districts in Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans (District Guide) recommends including a Behavioral Threat Assessment Annex in school- and school district–level EOPs. This annex contains goals, objectives, and courses of action for evaluating whether a person of concern poses a threat and initiating the appropriate responses and needed student supports based on the outcomes of the evaluation process.

Who is on the behavioral threat assessment team? Behavioral threat assessments require a range of expertise and should be performed by a multidisciplinary team. This team may include school administrators, school resource officers, mental health professionals, special educators, local law enforcement, and others with relevant responsibilities and experience.

Live and Virtual Trainings by Request: The REMS TA Center offers a FREE School Behavioral Threat Assessments: An Introduction Train-the-Educator Live and Virtual Training by Request. Led by subject matter experts, this training provides guidance on developing multidisciplinary behavioral threat assessment teams, customizing assessment approaches to local needs, and using tabletop exercises to practice the steps of conducting an assessment.

Podcast: REMS on the Air Podcast episode 29 shares a Behavioral Threat Assessment Success Story. Tune in to learn about the District of Columbia’s collaborative approach to implementing behavioral threat assessments as part of its district-wide emergency prevention and intervention strategy.

Webinars: The REMS TA Center’s archived webinars are FREE recorded trainings on numerous school safety topics, including behavioral threat assessments. Here are a few to get you started:

• Forming a Behavioral Threat Assessment Team
• Using Social Media in Behavioral Threat Assessments
• Preventing and Addressing Gun Violence in Schools