Procedure 3225 - School-Based Threat Assessment

Principles 

Six principles form the foundation of the threat assessment process. These principles are: 

• Targeted violence is the end result of an understandable, and oftentimes discernible, process of thinking and behavior. 
• Targeted violence stems from an interaction among the individual, the situation, the setting, and the target. 
• An investigative, skeptical, inquisitive mindset is critical to successful threat assessment. 
• Effective threat assessment is based upon facts rather than on characteristics or “traits.” 
• An "integrated systems approach” should guide threat assessment inquiries and investigations. 
• The central question in a threat assessment inquiry or investigation is whether a student poses a threat, not whether the student has made a threat. 

Identifying and Reporting Threats 

Timely reporting of expression to harm is crucial to an effective school-based threat assessment program. Anyone, including students, families, and community members may report communication or behavior that appears to be threatening or potentially threatening to the school’s Principal or Counselor, Assistant or Deputy Superintendent, or District Superintendent. 

All school district employees, volunteers, and contractors should report immediately to the school’s Principal or Counselor, Assistant or Deputy Superintendent, or District Superintendent any expression of intent to harm another person, concerning communications, or concerning behaviors that suggest an individual may intend to commit an act of violence. 

Anyone who believes that a person or situation poses an imminent threat of serious violence that requires containment should notify school security and/or law enforcement. 

Assessing Threats 

A School-based threat assessment is distinct from law enforcement investigation (if any). The goal of the threat assessment process is to take appropriate preventive or corrective measures to maintain a safe and secure school environment, to protect and support potential victims, and to provide assistance, as needed, to the individual being assessed. School-based threat assessment is also distinct from student discipline procedures. However, the functions of school-based threat assessment may run parallel to student discipline procedures. 

Triage 

The superintendent will designate a team leader for each threat assessment team(s), such as a school principal or a district administrator. If it is not feasible for all team members to be involved with the screening of initial reports referred to the team, the threat assessment team leader may designate a subset of team members to triage cases and determine their appropriateness for review and/or action by the full team. If a team implements a triage process, at least two members of the team will review initial reports and determine if the full team should further assess and manage the situation. All triaged cases must be shared with all members of the assessment team to ensure the cases were adequately addressed. All threat assessment team members shall be trained to triage cases effectively. 

Imminent 

Upon notification of threatening behavior or communications, the school administrator, threat assessment team, or triage team shall first determine if an imminent threat is believed to exist. If the individual appears to pose an imminent threat of serious violence to themselves or to others in the school, the administrator or assessment team shall notify law enforcement. 

Moderate or high-risk threat 

If the threat assessment team cannot determine with a reasonable degree of confidence that the alleged threat is a not a threat, or is a low risk threat, then the threat assessment team will undertake a more in-depth assessment to determine the nature and degree of any safety concerns and to develop strategies to prevent violence and reduce risk, as necessary. 

The threat assessment team’s review may include but is not limited to, reviews of records; interviews and consultations with staff, students, family members, community members, and others who know the individual; and interviews of the individual and the target/recipient of the threat(s). The threat assessment team will also screen for risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation, regardless of whether the alleged threat also included possible self-harm. 

Upon a determination that a student poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others, a threat assessment team shall immediately report its determination to the superintendent or designee. The superintendent or designee shall immediately attempt to notify the student’s parent or legal guardian. The district will ensure that the notice is in a language the parent and/or guardian understands, which may require language assistance for parents or guardians with limited-English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

In instances where the threat is deemed moderate risk or high risk, or requires further intervention to prevent violence or serious harm, the school administrator shall notify the parent and/or guardian of any student who is the target/recipient of a threat as well as the parent and/or guardian of any student who made the threat. The District will ensure that the notice is in a language the parent and/or guardian understands, which may require language assistance for parents or guardians with limited-English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

If the threat assessment team determines that an individual poses a threat of violence, based on the information collected, the threat assessment team develops, implements, and monitors intervention strategies to address, reduce, and mitigate the threat and assistance to those involved, as needed. If these strategies include disciplinary consequences, the District will provide notice to the student and their parents or legal guardian consistent with Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions Policy and Procedure 3200. 

The threat assessment team may assist individual(s) within the school to access appropriate school and community-based resources for support and/or further intervention. This includes assisting those who engaged in threatening behavior or communication, and any impacted staff or students. 

No identifiable threat or low risk threat 

If the threat assessment team concludes that no further assessment is necessary to determine the reported possible threat is not identifiable or constitutes a low threat of violence or harm to self or others, the threat assessment team concludes the threat assessment process and considers using typical interventions and resources. 

Adoption: