We can do more to protect our schools…

This website was created to share information and to start a dialog on a policy that endorses a standardized, principled-based approach to address school safety — one that provides an equivalent level of safety and security for all schools, sufficiently flexible to facilitate customized applications across a school district.

What we are proposing approaches safety, specifically targeted school violence, differently than published reports and guides on school safety. The vision is realized by a concept called Principled Safety®.

Principled Safety is a standards-based (or standardized) methodology that uses core principles and a supporting process to address credible assault scenarios. The standardized approach is inspired by our decades of experience and learning at high-hazard facilities where achieving high levels of safety is mandatory and fundamental to their operations. Having witnessed the challenges and lessons learned in safeguarding human life from the hazards of such facilities, we believe that any enterprise posing significant risk to people—where incidents can lead to serious injury or death—must adopt a shared value system grounded in proven safety management principles. These principles should be upheld in any context where there exists a risk of significant harm to human life. Although the missions of schools and that of high-risk enterprises differ, applying proven principles can significantly enhance the safety and resilience of educational institutions by reducing risks from both internal and external threats.

Across the country, organizations are exchanging insights and research on school safety to help prevent future tragedies. Federal and state commission reports provide best practice recommendations for protecting students and staff. However, school administrators lack published guidelines for choosing practices that fit their unique risks, which depend on factors like school design, campus size, location, and demographics. A consistently applied, principles-based process is needed to assess and reduce these risks.

Our approach creates a standardized system for evaluating and improving schools to protect against targeted school violence. A team of experts identifies potential vulnerabilities and details scenarios that could arise from these weaknesses. For each scenario, protective measures are reviewed individually and collectively to evaluate their impact on event outcomes. Once chosen, clear criteria and requirements ensure these measures are implemented effectively for lasting performance.

Principled Safety believes that the harm caused by these events is preventable and strives to achieve that goal. This goal is achievable when a comprehensive suite of scenarios is developed, and well-designed and effective defensive measures are put in place. Self-improvement is achieved through feedback mechanisms to seek continuous improvement. The consumption of feedback allows the system to learn from its failures and shortcomings and to improve itself as risks evolve. School administrators, teachers, safety advocates, parents, and law enforcement all serve an important role in assuring safe schools by their vigilance and willingness to provide input and support in all areas that affect safety.

We will continue to update this website as new information is shared. Our desire is to continue the dialog to enhance school safety.