Today, our partners at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the K-12 School Security Guide Companion Product for School-Based Law Enforcement and School Resource Officers, a new resource to help school-based law enforcement and school resource officers support physical security planning and implementation efforts in K-12 communities.
School-based law enforcement and school resource officers work with school officials and community-based organizations to protect K-12 schools from a range of safety and security threats. They can also serve in important roles in assisting K-12 stakeholders with creating and implementing physical security plans.
Using key concepts and principles from CISA’s K-12 School Security Guide, this new resource assists school-based law enforcement and school resource officers in understanding and applying physical security guidance and best practices as it relates to their role in K-12 communities. The companion product includes examples of how school-based law enforcement and school resource officers can support the five core elements that comprise a school’s physical security system, participate in the school security planning process, and leverage the School Security Assessment Tool to help assess vulnerabilities across a K-12 campus. It also includes a series of next steps and accompanying resources to help school-based law enforcement and school resource officers support physical security planning and improvement initiatives within their K-12 communities.
This new product was developed as a companion to the broader K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite, which provides K-12 districts and campuses with resources, tools and strategies to improve school physical security. Today’s release is the first in a series of school safety companion products that will be developed by CISA over the coming year. These products serve as streamlined and tailored guides for specific stakeholders within the K-12 and school safety communities to help them better understand and act upon key principles and guidance available through CISA’s school safety resources.
Learn more and download the new companion product and access the full K-12 School Security Guide Product Suite at cisa.gov/k-12-school-security-guide-product-suite.
Claire M. Moravec
Deputy Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy Director of Homeland Security
Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security