School Safety and Security Assessment Criteria

Under Section 1303-B of the PA Public School Code, the School Safety and Security Committee is responsible for developing and reviewing assessment criteria in the areas of physical assessment, policy and training, and student assistance and behavioral health support. The assessment criteria must be reviewed every three years, as needed.

On March 19, 2025, the Committee approved an updated set of assessment criteria for both physical assessments and student assistance and behavioral health support. These criteria were based on the materials originally approved by the Committee in 2018 and revised in 2021, with review and recommendations by Workgroups comprised of individuals serving in the field of physical security assessments or student assistance and behavioral health support (see Appendix A for Workgroup members). The assessment criteria were updated with current laws and regulations, aligned with the Baseline Criteria requirements for the school safety and security grant program, and revised to reflect current resources and guidance. The policy and training criteria, which had previously been included as a separate document, were integrated into the physical criteria and student assistance and behavioral health support criteria documents to streamline the assessment process.

The PA Public School Code does not require schools to complete a school safety and security assessment in the area of physical security or student assistance and behavioral health support; however, completion of these assessments is beneficial to school entities, and is included as a Level 1 item in the Baseline Criteria. School Code language on the school safety and security grant program states that school entities shall be eligible for school safety and mental health grants to meet the Level 1 Baseline Criteria items established by the Committee; after a school entity has met all Level 1 Baseline Criteria, funds may be used for other eligible activities outlined in Section 1306-B(j)  of the PA Public School Code.

The assessment criteria are intended to be used to inform both school entities and assessors as to the state of a school’s safety and security preparedness.

In using these criteria, the Committee recognizes that every school is unique. Each school entity will have its own set of priorities, resources, and building characteristics that will determine which options for consideration may be applicable. Schools represent a range of local and regional environmental, historical, and cultural influences. A facility’s particular characteristics merit the thoughtful use of these assessment criteria in tailoring the school’s plan to make its facility a safer environment for children to learn.

Levels have been applied to each of the statements within the criteria to align with the Baseline Criteria. These levels, Level 1, 2, and 3 (L1, L2, L3), organize information on the types of security equipment, practices, services, and programs that are in place in each school. Level 1 represents the baseline, what would be considered the most basic elements to be met, with Levels 2 and 3 being considered additional elements that build upon and strengthen the foundations of physical security or student assistance and behavioral health support in a school entity.

The criteria can be downloaded or printed and used to complete the assessment. There is a checkbox provided that can be marked to designate criteria fulfillment.

Note: Throughout these criteria the term "policy/procedure" is used as a general term denoting written documentation and could include a board-approved policy, internal procedure or administrative regulation, or plan, based on requirements of law and regulations and the advice of legal counsel.