Evidence claims

Following the tragedy at Columbine High School in April 1999, the Secret Service partnered with the Department of Education on a study that examined 37 incidents of targeted violence that occurred at elementary and secondary schools (i.e., K-12).

In 2008, the agencies collaborated again and released a report that further explored one of the key SSI findings, namely, that prior to most attacks, though other students had information about the attackers’ plans, most did not report their concerns to an adult.

The findings of this report, known as the Bystander Study, highlighted the importance of creating safe school climates to increase the likelihood that students will speak up in order to prevent an attack.

U.S. Secret Service research identified the following themes to explore when conducting a threat assessment investigation: • The student’s motives and goals • Concerning, unusual, or threatening communications • Inappropriate interest in weapons, school shooters, mass attacks, or other types of violence

Access to weapons • Stressful events, such as setbacks, challenges, or losses • Impact of emotional and developmental issues • Evidence of desperation, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts and gestures • Whether the student views violence as an option to solve problems • Whether others are concerned about the student’s statements or behaviors • Capacity to carry out an attack • Evidence of planning for an attack • Consistency between the student’s statements and actions • Protective factors such as positive or prosocial influences and events

Earlier NTAC research that examined attacks on schools found that not every student directly threatened their target prior to attack, but in a majority of incidents (81%), another person was aware of what the student was thinking or planning.

PBIS can improve academic outcomes for schools and has been shown to reduce the rates of school bullying.

Following an averted attack at a high school, the school principal sent a note home to students and parents about the incident. He used the note to explain what had been reported, the steps the school had taken to avert the attack, and praise for the students who had alerted school officials about concerning and threatening statements they saw online.

In the note, he also asked parents to encourage their students to speak up if they ever felt concerned about a classmate’s behavior, explaining that students’ “cooperation [with school officials] is important for everybody’s safety.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends that emergency response plans be developed with input from local law enforcement and first responders.