Framework for Systematizing School Security

We recommend starting with the Secure School Tool‍ framework. This resource provides a foundational start point as well as an option based roadmap for teams to build a comprehensive, robust and multilayered security program that is the best fit for their organization. The Secure School Tool takes the guess work out of security program development and meets schools where they are while providing a path forward toward a secure future.

‘Systematizing’ security means moving away from single points of failure, gaps in coverage and single-person dependent measures and moving toward a structured process and multilayered program that increases the probability of effectiveness for a security program in real world application. We help teams create clarity in a security framework where safety protocols, hardware, and training are all interconnected, aligned and operationalized throughout the organization.

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is an I Love U Guys Foundation product that consists of a simple - common language - framework used to move an organization into an emergency response posture. The commands consist of Hold - Secure - Lockdown - Evacuate and Shelter In Place. While the SRP is very effective as the higher level ‘umbrella’ for an organizational response, it is important to acknowledge that due to the dynamic nature of emergency incidents, it is also critically important that people be trained to develop a broad skillset that allows them to make decisions and employ local level response actions specific to the nature of the incident they are facing personally. We recommend Think - Move and Communicate (TMC) as the active assailant training that empowers team members to develop the necessary skillsets to enhance their own survivability when the unforgiving moment arrives. The SRP and TMC complement and work in conjunction with each other to create a very effective organizational response while empowering individuals to think for themselves and respond with confidence to the incident they are experiencing firsthand at the ground level. There is no one size fits all response option in the real world; hence, the importance of being proficient in both SRP and TMC for a strong and effective response foundation.

The Security Locker is a secure, internal to your organization web hub, accessible 24/7 and customized for your district. It provides a home for all things safety, security and emergency management.

An executable plan should be a living, breathing entity that stays up to date and relevant with the ever changing operating environment. This platform is the perfect tool for version control, searchability and real time updates to allow staff easy access to security protocols even in a decentralized environment.

The Security Locker ensures that every staff member and first responder have the right information at their fingertips during a time sensitive crisis.

Yes. We believe wholeheartedly in living in a constant state of assessment. We provide preliminary security screenings as well as comprehensive security vulnerability assessments that look at all aspects of your site’s security. We analyze your entire security system from the outside in - the physical security features, the human behaviors, the threats and the organizations policies and procedures. We document, provide a detailed list of sustains and improves and help teams to create a realistic security improvement plan.

Absolutely. We specialize in the full range of exercise development from tabletop exercises to full-scale community emergency response exercises. We have a proven record of highly effective emergency response training. We were recognized for excellence in running one of the largest school based emergency response exercises in the nation.

We have a highly qualified team of consisting of seasoned security professionals in schools, law enforcement and fire that come together to orchestrate the effort of the entire process, fostering communication between schools and first responders to move your emergency response plans ‘beyond the white board’ so that they are operational, known and well rehearsed.

The days of leaving school security to chance or having surface level programs that are not actually effective are over. Programs should be comprehensive, multi-layered, effective and have both preventative and response components. We as school leaders have a solemn responsibility and a duty to keep students and staff safe against the existential threats that compromise the integrity of our teaching and learning environments.

Our recommended roadmap consists of 12 critical components to systematizing security in our nation’s schools. Each of these components has a very specific purpose grounded in years of real world experience in the school security operating environment. Their purpose is to provide structure, ownership, accountability, training, assessment and effective leadership sponsorship.

The 12 components of the Security Road Map in schools are:

• A Superintendent Ownership Commitment

• A Security Assessment Complete For Every School

• A Security Improvement Plan For Every School

• A Designated Security Leader

• Security Sponsorship Training For All Superintendents and Principals

• Big 12 - Basic Level Security Measures In Place In All Schools

• Security Leaders - School Security Leader Academy Trained

• A Security Locker In Place

• Dedicated Baseline Security Funding (Untouchable)

• Standard Response Protocol In Place In All Schools

• Active Assailant Training

• A Designated Safety Stand Down Day Prior To The Start of The School

The School Security Leader Academy (SLA) is a comprehensive 40 hour course designed to accelerate the learning curve for school security leaders in the education environment.  The course builds awareness and understanding around the challenges and dynamics of security in education and prepares the school security professional to systematize security in their organization.  It develops the necessary skill set to balance and integrate a multi-layered, effective security program within the teaching and learning environment and with the student experience as the center of gravity.  The curriculum includes access to a robust amount of resources and numerous hands on activities for attendees to develop and fine tune their own products. Graduates of the course will become part of a network of school security professionals for years to come.  This course will save you time, develop the skill set necessary for you to be a successful security leader in education and provide you the tools to systematize security in your schools.

Absolutely! ADVANCE has worked with businesses, airports, medical facilities, courts, schools, government agencies, city teams, the military and churches. The beauty of the security and leadership disciplines is that they apply to ALL! If you need security or leadership development training, say when and where and we will make it happen!