Two Powerful Tools to Help Schools Support a Secure Environment for Learning

By David Strickland, Vice President of Kenton Brothers

At Kenton Brothers Systems for Security, we are proud of our role in protecting People, Property and Possessions, especially when it comes to our partnerships within education. With that in mind, we are happy to spotlight a new collaborative effort that is paying off big time. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are teaming up to help schools become more secure and to better support a learning environment. They’ve released two guides to help schools create great security plans and to help pay for them!

First, The CISA Resources and DHS Grants guide helps orientate school districts to the multitude of resources available to them to support school security. These include the new collaborative website called:

www.SCHOOLSAFETY.gov

This is an interagency website created by the Federal government to provide schools and districts with actionable recommendations to create safe and supportive environments for students and educators.

The K-12  SCHOOL SECURITY GUIDE PRODUCT SUITE

The K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite is designed to provide K-12 districts and campuses with resources, tools, and strategies to improve school physical security. The suite outlines action-oriented practices and helps schools and districts learn the steps necessary to assess vulnerabilities, strengthen security, and better protect against a range of targeted violence and other threats.

K-12 BYSTANDER REPORTING TOOLKIT

The K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit supports K-12 schools and districts in strengthening school safety reporting programs and encouraging bystander reporting among students and other members of the school community.

NATIONAL SUMMIT ON K-12 SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY

The School Safety Task Force (SSTF) hosts an annual National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security to bring Federal, state, and local school leaders together to share actionable recommendations that enhance safe and supportive learning environments.

GRANTS FINDER TOOL

SchoolSafety.gov’s Grants Finder tool houses school safety-related Federal grants in one centralized location and provides members of the K-12 school community with a variety of ways to search for and access funding opportunities. The tool features multiple of Federally available school safety-specific grants searchable based on school safety topic, award amount, application level of effort, and more.

CISA Resources and DHS Grants.pdf

Social Media Threat Guidance for School Staff and Authorities

In late December 2023, DHA and CISA published the Social Media Threat Guidance for School Staff and Authorities Infographic. It highlights social media threats affecting school districts in the United States. It goes a step further by providing mitigation and response measures for social media threats directed at a school district. It also connects school safety stakeholders to the suite of tools and resources provided by CISA and its partners to promote a culture of readiness and preparedness.

Technology has revolutionized the American school system, making education more accessible than ever before.  However, the advancements and accessibility of various social media platforms continue to reveal new vulnerabilities and security gaps within the school threat landscape. In the United States, social media-based threats to school districts continue to rise; in 2022, school districts reported closing more frequently due to social media threats than for COVID-19 outbreaks.

Download this powerful resource here:

Social Media Threat Guidance for School Staff and Authorities Infographic.pdf

This collaborative approach from DHS and CISA in helping schools understand what resources are available to them and providing financial resources to support the initiatives is a step in the right direction. Kenton Brothers is happy to help guide schools through this process. Please give us a call today.