Become a Safe Schools Maryland Gold, Silver, or Bronze School
Starting during the 2020-2021 school year, Maryland schools can earn the distinction of Safe Schools Maryland Gold, Silver, or Bronze Schools by meeting the following criteria. Recognition of Gold, Silver, or Bronze status occurs each May, at which point those schools meeting the criteria for Gold, Silver, or Bronze status are provided the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Safe Schools Maryland seal in decal, banner, and .png formats in order to display the school’s commitment to school safety outside and inside the school building and on the school’s website/print materials.
In order to become a Safe Schools Maryland Bronze School:
- The Maryland Center for School Safety must deliver a live 30-minute (or longer) presentation during the school year to all students at the school (can be delivered in-person or online and presented on different dates to different grade levels)
In order to become a Safe Schools Maryland Silver School:
- The Maryland Center for School Safety must deliver a live 30-minute (or longer) presentation during the school year to all students at the school (can be delivered in-person or online and presented on different dates to different grade levels)
- The Maryland Center for School Safety must deliver a live 30-minute (or longer) presentation during the school year to all student-facing staff members at the school (can be delivered in-person or online and delivered on different dates to different employee cohorts)
In order to become a Safe Schools Maryland Gold School:
- The Maryland Center for School Safety must deliver a live 30-minute (or longer) presentation during the school year to all students at the school (can be delivered in-person or online and presented on different dates to different grade levels)
- The Maryland Center for School Safety must deliver a live 30-minute (or longer) presentation during the school year to all student-facing staff members at the school (can be delivered in-person or online and delivered on different dates to different employee cohorts)
- The Maryland Center for School Safety must deliver at least one live 30-minute (or longer) presentation during the school year to the school’s parent/guardian population (can be delivered in-person or online and delivered on different dates to different parent/guardian cohorts).
Work your way to bronze, silver, or gold school designation today. Schedule your school’s 30+ minute Safe Schools Maryland presentation for student, staff, and parent audiences now.
Not yet a Safe Schools Maryland member?
Join Safe Schools Maryland Now
As we kick off the 2020-2021 school year, now is the ideal time for your school to become a member of the free - yet invaluable - Safe Schools Maryland anonymous reporting system.
A proactive tool that empowers all Maryland residents to create a culture of preparedness, prevention, and safety in and around our schools, Safe Schools Maryland is anonymously accessible by phone at 1-833-MD-B-SAFE (1-833-632-7233), online at safeschoolsmd.org, and by downloading the free app via the App Store or Google Play.
Whether students are experiencing cyberbullying or are concerned about one or more students capable of self-harm or violence, Safe Schools Maryland is an increasingly vital tool to ensure the safety and well-being of our students twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.
Students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members use Safe Schools Maryland to share their concerns about:
- Mental Health Crises
- Bullying / Harassment
- Past / Potential Community Violence
- Drug Activity
- Gang Activity
- Abuse
- Weapons / Physical Threats
- Other Issues Affecting Maryland Students
When your school becomes a member of Safe Schools Maryland, the school officials you select will immediately receive any anonymous tips concerning students, teachers, and/or activities at, near, or related to your school. This, in turn, will give your school the opportunity to resolve most matters appropriately in-house before relatively benign issues or situations develop into emergencies. In the event a tip concerning students, teachers, and/or activities at your school requires an urgent response, not only will you be informed right away, but tip takers will also deploy the appropriate public safety response.
Member schools are also able to promote to their students, parents, faculty, and staff the proactive steps their school leaders are taking to ensure that their campus remains a safe and secure place for all of its community members while clarifying the role each member of a community plays in keeping the school safe.
Join Safe Schools Maryland Now
Frequently Asked Questions for Schools and School Officials
What is Safe Schools Maryland?
Safe Schools Maryland is an ANONYMOUS tip line and reporting system that allows students, parents, and community members to easily and anonymously report school or student safety concerns anywhere in Maryland. Tips received are routed to school, public safety, health, and/or social services personnel for follow up.
How are tips reported?
There are three ways to anonymously report information to Safe Schools Maryland:
→App: SafeSchoolsMD available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play
→Web: safeschoolsmd.org
→Phone: 1-833-MD-B-SAFE (1-833-632-7233)
How does the process work?
Trained tip takers respond to tips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. In cases of immediate life threats or crimes in progress, local 9-1-1 and law enforcement will be notified immediately. In situations where a credible tip is impending but not immediate, or cases in which information is useful to the school but does not warrant immediate action, designated school officials are notified through the Safe Schools Maryland system. In all cases, designated school officials are notified for follow-up.
Who can report a tip?
Tips can be reported by all members of the community.
Does this change how our school handles safety issues or follows up on safety-related incidents?
No. In fact, Safe Schools Maryland is just another way for information to come to the attention of the school and supports your existing practices, policies, and initiatives. Safe Schools Maryland encourages schools to leverage the program as part of their overall school safety plan.
By joining Safe Schools Maryland, will it appear that my school is unsafe?
No. In fact, just the opposite is true. By being a member of Safe Schools Maryland, you give parents, students, staff, and community members a chance to report concerns before they become major issues. You take a proactive preventative approach instead of waiting until an issue arises and reacting.
Does this replace 9-1-1?
No. Individuals should still call 9-1-1 in cases of emergency. Any immediate life threats or crimes in progress that come into Safe Schools Maryland will be routed to 9-1-1 along with designated school recipients.
Is there a fee for schools to join?
No. There are zero fees for any Maryland school - public, private, or otherwise - to join and maintain membership with Safe Schools Maryland.
How can my school be involved?
Schools can choose to join Safe Schools Maryland by using this form. Upon completion of the registration form, contacts will be added to the system and a 45-minute training session on how to use the system and address tips will be scheduled. Each contact listed for that school should attend a training session, as there are important privacy and security guidelines that are covered. You can also become a champion for Safe Schools Maryland in your school community by both ensuring staff and students are aware of the program and looking for opportunities to promote Safe Schools Maryland wherever possible throughout the school year. Free promotional materials that you are encouraged to share with your community are available within the “Multimedia Resources” tab on this page of the Maryland for School Safety (MCSS) website.
Can I request a presentation or training session for my school, staff, or students?
Yes! MCSS is available to conduct an overview presentation of Safe Schools Maryland and training sessions for school staff members on how to navigate the entire anonymous reporting system.
Join Safe Schools Maryland Now