With student safety on the minds of many K-12 districts across the U.S.—especially regarding gun violence—schools are taking preventive measures to ensure that their students feel safe as they return for the new school year.
In the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District gave parents the option to enroll their children in virtual learning this year. Another district, North Carolina’s Madison County Schools, is taking measures to the extreme by equipping school resource officers with AR-15 assault rifles. Hardening schools through the use of “physical” security options, such as metal detectors and clear backpacks, is another method some districts have implemented. However, these measures are secondary to safety drill training and best practices.
Students also play a role in violence prevention. But to do so, they need to feel safe and confident when reporting threatening behavior. One way they’re now able to do this is through the use of anonymous reporting systems.
A research article published in the Journal of School Violence last week reveals that anonymous reporting systems are effective in lowering violence in schools.
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System, which was launched after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, was examined regarding its ability to improve school safety across 19 middle schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The results indicate that anonymous reporting systems are a promising method for reporting signs of violence among students and that schools that used them saw lower instances of violence and improved cognitive and behavioral outcomes.
Anonymity can help students feel like their reports will be addressed fairly and without bias, according to the report. It gives them the confidence to speak up without feeling like they’re in danger. This is significant, since 66% of school shooters vocalize their plan to someone else, according to a 2019 analysis from the U.S. Secret Service. Students who have access to anonymous reporting systems may be more likely to send a report in such an instance.
Among the reports submitted through The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System, 17% were linked to legitimate threats of danger, according to a 2021 annual report. Additionally, it prevented over 60 acts of violence with a weapon and six planned school shootings.
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