CISA School Safety Task Force releases the K-12 School Security Guide Suite

On February 22, the the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) School Safety Task Force released the K-12 School Security Guide Suite, a set of products designed to inform safety and physical security planning for the range of kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools across the United States. 

Developed in partnership with the RAND Corporation, the K-12 School Security Guide Suite is comprised of the CISA K-12 School Security Guide (3rd Edition) and accompanying School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT). The Guide and SSAT provide a comprehensive doctrine and methodology to assist schools in conducting more robust vulnerability assessments and implementing layered physical security elements across K–12 districts and campuses. Both products are available on CISA.gov and are designed to support school communities in strengthening their protection and mitigation capabilities against the range of targeted violence and crime-related threats they might face.

Dr. David Mussington, executive director of CISA, developed this guide to demonstrate "...how taking a systems-based approach to school physical security planning can help schools create safe and secure learning environments – without requiring school staff to become security experts or compromising the broader educational mission."

The guide suite includes systems-based approaches to layered school security such as planning processes with elements and strategies of security and well as creating a physical grounds perimeter with building exterior and interior layers for systems. These layers are meant to detect, delay and respond to threats. One of the key themes stressed in the guide suite is that these approaches are not one size fits all and may be adjusted for each unique school system. 

Check out the guide suite as well as the K-12 School Security Assessment Tools (with guides!) here.