The School Safety Center provides resources to districts and schools to help in the development of high-quality emergency operations and safety plans. Feeling safe is fundamental for a positive school climate and learning environment. RCW 28A.320.125 requires all public school districts and public schools to have current school safety plans and procedures in place.

The School Safety Center is a component of Student Support and works in close collaboration with System and School Improvement, and other departments within OSPI. In addition, regularly scheduled meetings of the School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee complement our commitment to keeping all students safe at school each and every day.

Comprehensive Safety Planning Toolkit

The Washington State Legislature considers it to be a matter of public safety for public schools and staff to have current safe school plans and procedures in place, fully consistent with federal law. These comprehensive safe school plans are also often referred to as Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs). RCW 28A.320.125 contains further information on safe school plans requirements and duties of school districts surrounding reports, drills, rules, and first responder agencies.

Find a list of Comprehensive School Safety Coordinators (CSSC) for information on coordinating support to school districts before emergencies occur. This includes comprehensive safe school planning under RCW 28A.320.125.

Harassment, Intimidation, & Bullying (HIB) 

Every school district shall designate one person in the district as the primary contact regarding the anti-harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) policy. The district superintendent will appoint a compliance officer as the primary district contact to receive copies of all formal and informal complaints and ensure policy implementation. Explore the HIB compliance officer contact list, HIB toolkit, and more. 

School-Based Threat Assessment

2SHB 1216 (2019–20) and RCW 28A.320.123 requires all LEAs to have School-Based Threat Assessment Programs and teams in place by the 2020–2021 school year. The Threat Assessment Coordinators are part of the ESD RSSCs and support districts in their implementation of Threat Assessment Programs.  Also see, Bulletin B018-20: New Requirements Related to School-Based Threat Assessment Programs Policies and Procedures.

Behavioral Health & Suicide Prevention

2SHB 1216 (2019–20) funded Behavioral Health Coordinator/Navigator (BHN) positions as part of the ESD RSSCs to provide a network of support for school districts to develop and implement comprehensive suicide prevention and behavioral health supports for students.

School Safety & Security Staff

2SHB 1216 (2019–20) created requirements and definitions around an optional School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. The Program was codified into state law as RCW 28A.320.124.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 1214 (2021–22) Session Law expanded and clarified the previous legislation to include all School Safety and Security Staff. What was previously referred to as the SRO Program has now been expanded to the School Safety and Security Staff Program. 

ESHB 1214 (2021–22) requires that OSPI collect school safety and security staffing data from school districts. You can download that data here: Safety and Security Staff Data, 2021–22 School year

School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee (SS-SWAC)

The purpose of the SS-SWAC is to advise the Superintendent, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s School Safety Center, the RSSCs, school districts, and public and private schools on all matters related to comprehensive school safety and student well-being.