NASHVILLE: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee launched the School Safety Toolkit (opens a link in a new tab), to help parents and guardians prepare and engage in their child’s school safety plan.
This follows Executive Order 97 (opens a link in a new tab), which directed state agencies to equip and engage parents and guardians, increase transparency and collaborate with local law enforcement and school districts.
“As we continue our work to protect Tennessee children, the new School Safety Toolkit will provide parents with helpful resources and greater transparency to feel confident their child is safe at school,” Lee said. “I encourage every Tennessee family to prepare and engage in school safety by utilizing this Toolkit and downloading the SafeTN app.”
Click here (opens a link in a new tab) to view a video message from Gov. Lee.
The toolkit, a joint effort of the Tennessee Departments of Education, Safety and Homeland Security and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, includes tips for Tennessee parents and guardians, including:
How to Prepare
Use the SafeTN app (opens a link in a new tab) to report suspicious or concerning activity at the child’s school.
Familiarize yourself with school leadership and opportunities to be present at school functions.
Keep an eye out for warning signs and learn how to address student concerns, such as bullying.
Know how to access mental health resources in your child’s community.
How to Engage with the Child’s School
- Ask the child’s school about their emergency plans.
- Look for opportunities to partner with and volunteer at the child’s school.
- Reach out if your child needs support – there are helpful organizations in this guide.
- Keep these resources handy and share them with other families in the child’s community.
The Lee administration has taken additional actions (opens a link in a new tab) to enhance school safety across Tennessee, delivering on commitments made in Executive Order 97:
Equipping Parents and Guardians
- Engaged more than 11,000 Tennesseans through the SafeTN app, a free resource to report safety concerns at a child’s school
- Expanded school-based behavioral health liaisons to cover 95 counties
- Made mobile crisis providers available to students and guardians across the state that can be reached by dialing “988”
Securing Schools
- Provided every school district with an updated school safety plan template
- Ensured every Tennessee school has completed a physical school security assessment
- Supported school districts with school safety training resources
- Prioritized frequent, unannounced checks to see that school doors latch and precautions are in place
Partnering with Law Enforcement
- Ensured state and local law enforcement have collaborated to provide hands-on active shooter training courses in each grand division
- Equipped more than 600 school resource officers with updated training
- Directed Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers to build stronger relationships with local school leadership