Our hearts are broken for the victims of yesterday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School, the families who lost their loved ones and the community of Uvalde, Texas, as it mourns following this senseless act of violence. This tragic incident has once again prompted a discussion about the causes of active shooter incidents in schools – which are many – and what we can do to prevent such violence. Among the many other ways to address the risk holistically, we can reduce vulnerabilities through having the right security measures in place, such as providing the ability to secure classrooms and school facilities against intruders, enhancing emergency communications and others.

Taking a layered approach to security can reduce the likelihood of intrusions, including those of active shooters. The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) was founded in 2014 to provide school administrators, school boards and public safety and security professionals with the information, tools and insight needed to implement a tiered approach to securing and enhancing the safety of school environments. The PASS Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools are the most comprehensive information available on best practices specifically for securing K-12 school facilities, including elementary, middle and high schools. These guidelines, which have been made available to the public since their creation and will continue to be offered for free, are designed to help communities provide and sustain effective levels of security appropriate to each district and K-12 facility. We encourage schools to leverage these guidelines as they work to harden their facilities, control access and protect their students, faculty and staff. While the safety and security of school facilities plays a key role in promoting safe and positive school climates, this should be part of a comprehensive school safety strategy that addresses other factors as well.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, PASS thanks its multidisciplinary team of volunteers for their leadership and extends gratitude to its public- and private-sector partners, whose support has been instrumental in our efforts to provide a complete “all-hazards” approach to strengthening school safety and security. We remain committed to ensuring the protection of our schools and providing communities with the resources they need to navigate the complex safety and security challenges facing our schools.