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Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments

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Title: Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments
Language: English
Authors: Jennifer L. DePaoli, Stacy B. Loewe, Learning Policy Institute
Source: Learning Policy Institute. 2025.
Availability: Learning Policy Institute. 1530 Page Mill Road Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Tel: 650-332-9797; e-mail: info@learningpolicyinstitute.org; Web site: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 36
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Descriptors: School Safety, Risk Assessment, Student Behavior, School Violence, Prevention, Psychological Patterns, Security (Psychology), Models, Educational Research, Educational Policy, Program Implementation, Educational Environment, Data Collection, Data Use, Mental Health Programs, School Health Services, School Counseling, Program Design, Law Enforcement, Bias, Program Improvement
Abstract: One way that schools have attempted to address both physical and psychological safety in school is the use of behavioral threat assessments (BTAs). These systems aim to identify, assess, and manage the threat of targeted violence--attacks in which the school is deliberately selected as the location--with the ultimate goal of intervening to prevent such violence. In the 2021-22 school year, 65% of schools across the United States reported having a threat assessment team. By April 2024, this number had jumped to 85%. Despite the prevalence of BTA systems in schools, the available evidence on their implementation and outcomes is only beginning to paint a picture of how they are being implemented and what impacts they are having on students. This report explores the history of BTAs and summarizes the available research on these systems in schools. The authors then share considerations policymakers should be aware of as they contemplate the use of BTAs as a violence prevention strategy.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678946
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED678946
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  Data: Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jennifer+L%2E+DePaoli%22">Jennifer L. DePaoli</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stacy+B%2E+Loewe%22">Stacy B. Loewe</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Learning+Policy+Institute%22">Learning Policy Institute</searchLink>
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  Data: Learning Policy Institute. 1530 Page Mill Road Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Tel: 650-332-9797; e-mail: info@learningpolicyinstitute.org; Web site: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org
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  Data: One way that schools have attempted to address both physical and psychological safety in school is the use of behavioral threat assessments (BTAs). These systems aim to identify, assess, and manage the threat of targeted violence--attacks in which the school is deliberately selected as the location--with the ultimate goal of intervening to prevent such violence. In the 2021-22 school year, 65% of schools across the United States reported having a threat assessment team. By April 2024, this number had jumped to 85%. Despite the prevalence of BTA systems in schools, the available evidence on their implementation and outcomes is only beginning to paint a picture of how they are being implemented and what impacts they are having on students. This report explores the history of BTAs and summarizes the available research on these systems in schools. The authors then share considerations policymakers should be aware of as they contemplate the use of BTAs as a violence prevention strategy.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 36
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Safety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk Assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Violence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prevention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Security (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Implementation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data Collection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data Use
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental Health Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Health Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Counseling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Law Enforcement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bias
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Improvement
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments
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            NameFull: Jennifer L. DePaoli
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              M: 10
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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