How does the Safe to Learn Act (STLA) support safe schools?
Click here to better understand the STLA
The Maryland Center for School Safety was established in 2013, House Bill 453, as an independent unit of State government. The Center was established as a clearinghouse for information and best practices, to provide and facilitate professional staff development, conduct training, and facilitate coordination and collaboration between local school systems.
The Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 (Senate Bill 1265) was signed into law by Governor Hogan on April 10, 2018. This legislation included increased funding for the Maryland Center for School Safety, the creation of aggressive statewide standards for school safety, requirements for the standardized training and certification for all school resource officers, and requirements for each school system to develop behavioral assessment teams to identify and provide interventions for students who may pose a threat to safety.
Major Changes:
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Provided additional funding and staffing to the Center
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Provided new school safety grants to support security related upgrades, training, and outreach
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Required school resource officers (SROs) or adequate law enforcement coverage in all public schools
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Required the creation of a uniform SRO training curriculum
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Required the approved SRO training be completed by all SROs and School Security Employees
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Required the development of Behavioral Threat Assessment Policies to identity at-risk children
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Required the identification of a School Security Coordinator for each local school system
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Required the identification of a School Mental Health Services Coordinator for each local school system
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Required each school system to conduct regular school safety assessments/evaluations for all public schools
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legal advice memo on the scope of the STLA
Mandates
School Resource Officer (SRO) Adequate Coverage - Safe to Learn Act 2018 §7–1508(e)
What does this mandate mean: This yearly report identifies each public school within a local school system that has an assigned SRO, and, for those schools without an assigned SRO, the adequate local law enforcement coverage that will be provided to those schools.
MCSS produced a report of the findings.
Status: Completed for last school year, in progress for current school year
Use of Force Reporting - Safe to Learn Act 2018 §7–1508(h)
What does this mandate mean: MCSS must collect data regarding any and all incidents of use of force between any SRO or School Security Employee (SSE) and any student. These incidents are collected while a SRO is carrying out the officer’s duties or while the SSE is carrying out the employee’s duties. Use of Force incidents were not tracked or collected during the 2018-2019 school year. The first Use of Force report will be produced in December of 2020.
Status: Completed for last school year, in progress for current school year
School Safety Coordinator (SSC) Certifications - Safe to Learn Act 2018 §7–1508(a)
What does this mandate mean: Each Local School System (LSS) must appoint a School Safety Coordinator (SSC). MCSS is mandated to certify School Safety Coordinators (SSCs) upon their completion of the training specified below. An SSC serves as the liaison between the local school system, the local law enforcement agency, and MCSS.
Status: Continually in progress
School Resource Officer (SRO) & Public School Security Employee (SSE) Training - Safe to Learn Act 2018 §7–1508(b)
What does this mandate mean: To be assigned as a SRO or to be employed as a school security employee, an individual shall complete the MCSS training program through instruction provided by MCSS in collaboration with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission or a local law enforcement agency’s training program that is consistent with MCSS’ curriculum.
Status: Continually in progress
Public School Emergency Plan (EP) Update and Collection - Safe to Learn Act 2018 §7–1510(d)-(e)
What does this mandate mean: Each LSS shall update the school emergency plan for each public school in the school system’s jurisdiction to include detailed plans for the manner in which each public school will address Behavioral Threats, Emergency Events, and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in Emergency Events. In addition, each LSS shall update the school emergency plan for each public school in the school system’s jurisdiction to conform with the updated emergency planning guidelines and incorporate any changes required. Upon completion, each local school system shall submit the plans to MCSS for review and comment. Local school systems that have a central office emergency plan should also submit it when submitting the individual school emergency plans.
Status:
Collection completed, review completed, updates on a case-by-case basis
Emergency Plan Summary Report - Safe to Learn Act 2018 §7–1510(f)
What does this mandate mean: What MCSS is referring to as the Emergency Plan (EP) Summary Report includes aggregate data about threats* made against any school or school system facility, information about any school lockdowns, evacuations, or other emergency responses that occurred, incidents in which a public school’s emergency plan failed in part or in whole to function as anticipated in an emergency or an emergency drill, and the number of school hours spent in an emergency or an emergency drill.
Status: Completed for last school year, in progress for current school year
*For the purposes of this context the term threats should be interpreted to include threats of mass violence as set forth in Md. Code Ann., Criminal Law Art. 3-1001, or a credible threat to an individual which, if carried out, would result in a critical life-threatening incident on school grounds as set forth in Md. Code Ann., Ed. Art. 7-1510(g), and any corresponding COMAR provisions.
