NSA School Safety Recognition Initiative

If it is the expectation of school safety law enforcement stakeholders and their federal partners that the schools implement recommended practices, it is the expectation of the schools to be recognized for said efforts.

The School Safety Recognition Initiative (SSRI) is a voluntary self-assessment process designed for schools to gain a letter of recognition from national law enforcement school safety stakeholders1 for their efforts in implementing and maintaining school safety, security and emergency preparedness. 

SSRI Application

Objectives

  • To strengthen relationships between law enforcement school safety stakeholders, their federal partners and school leadership.
  • To engage collaborative agencies in sustainment and improvement of effective school safety preparedness.
  • To proliferate proactive and functional community interoperability2.
  • To incentivize school leadership to re-engage school safety as a priority in the wake of allocating majority resources to address the many challenges of the COVID pandemic.

Procedure

An online application consisting of a brief set of self-assessment categories is made available to any United States school organization. Once submitted, the information is then reviewed and evaluated. Selected school organizations receive a “Letter of Recognition” including the logos of all collaborators.

There are six categories of questions:

  1. Category 1. School Safety Community Stakeholders
  2. Category 2. Risk Assessment
  3. Category 3. Behavioral Assessment/Emotional Security Measures
  4. Category 4. Physical Security
  5. Category 5. Policy and Procedures
  6. Category 6. Emergency Preparedness

SSRI Application

1Members of the National Law Enforcement School Recognition Initiative Advisory Board include the National Sheriffs’ Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).

2Engaging school officials working with local and/or state law enforcement, fire service, emergency management, mental health, court, probation and public health officials, it is intended to enhance community interoperability and provide presentable evidence that school leadership has carefully re-evaluated prevention and preparedness approaches.