Why Digital Security Checklists Are the Future of School Safety
The PASS digital security checklists represent the evolution from static checklists to a centralized, interactive system that enables up-to-the-minute, data-driven school safety assessments.
Digital Checklists: An Efficient Way to Check all the Boxes
This past spring, PASS unveiled a digitized security checklist portal as part of its ongoing effort to encourage usage of the PASS Guidelines. These interactive tools enable school leaders and safety teams to assess and implement security recommendations at their own pace, tailored to their individual needs and areas of focus. The checklists transform static PDF tools into web-based, mobile-friendly, editable forms. The platform also allows school teams to complete assessments in real time, attach data to specific campuses, and automatically generate PDF and Excel reports for more in-depth, up-to-date safety and security analysis.
Although PASS will continue to provide hard-copy documentation and fillable PDF versions of the checklists for those who prefer them, the goal is to encourage more dynamic, streamlined, and data-driven safety practices through the digitized versions. Best of all, the digital checklists automatically maintain the most up-to-date information entered by authorized users, without overwriting changes made by others.
The PASS School Safety and Security Checklist enables schools and districts to compare their safety and security efforts with current nationwide best practices. It helps administrators identify gaps, determine where they are in the implementation process, prioritize future improvements, and evaluate which recommendations are appropriate for their facilities.
The PASS School Safety and Security Guidelines provide the narrative and rationale behind each best practice included in the checklist.
Access the Checklist
Use the PASS printable or digital checklist to assess your school’s progress with security:
Upon completing the linked form below, you will receive an email from PASS allowing you to download the guidelines document, the checklist document, or the new digitized checklist. You will also receive future updates on the PASS Guidelines.
Download the PASS Guidelines and Safety & Security Checklist (free resources)
Our security checklists comprehensively cover the entirety of your recommended security focus, from district-wide recommendations to the interior of buildings and classrooms. These checklists also provide a full evaluation of your digital infrastructure layer. An example of the layers and Building Perimeter Security Checklist is shown below:
As a bonus, once completed, checklists can be saved and shared, making it easier for districts to track progress and maintain clear administrative records. We encourage all our partners to take advantage of these new tools to streamline the school safety assessment process and support continuous improvement.
Browse Safety & Security Checklists, Now!
DISCLAIMER:
The Safety and Security Guidelines for K‑12 Schools (the “Guidelines”) are provided for informational purposes only. Under no circumstances do the contributors to this document and the organizations participating in the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) provide any related guarantees or accept liability for any loss or damage resulting from any person acting or refraining from acting on this information.
The Guidelines are not a substitute for legal, financial, or other professional advice to address the specific facts and circumstances related to the implementation of a particular school safety or security measure or program.
Privacy Notice:
PASS and the contributors to this document do not collect, store, or process any personal or sensitive information through the distribution of these Guidelines. Individuals and organizations accessing or sharing this document online should be aware that digital platforms, websites, or third‑party services may collect data in accordance with their own privacy policies. PASS is not responsible for the security, privacy practices, or data‑handling activities of any external websites, cloud services, or online platforms used to obtain or distribute the Guidelines. Users should exercise caution and follow their organization’s data governance and cybersecurity practices when accessing or disseminating this information online.
Data Protection Statement:
While reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards are commonly used by reputable online platforms to help protect data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or misuse, no system can guarantee absolute security. Users are encouraged to review the privacy and security policies of any website or service they use to access the Guidelines to ensure that appropriate protections are in place.
Use the PASS printable or digital checklist to assess your school’s progress with security:
Upon completing the linked form below, you will receive an email from PASS allowing you to download the Guidelines document, the Checklist document, or the new digitized checklist. You will also receive future updates on the PASS Guidelines.
The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS)is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) bringing together expertise from the education, public safety, and industry communities to develop and support a coordinated approach to making effective and appropriate decisions with respect to safety and security investments. You can download the complete PASS Guidelines, or check out our PASS Safety and Security Checklist for quick tips on how to get started. These resources — as well as white papers on various topics including barricade devices, lockdown drills, and more — are available at no cost.
Ready to get the Guidelines?
The most comprehensive information available on best practices specifically for securing school facilities, vetted extensively by experts across the education, public safety and industry sectors.