Student Threat Assessment Process

The APS Student Threat Assessment Process is a problem-solving approach to violence prevention that focuses on helping students in distress. This approach involves both assessment and interventions to resolve problems before they escalate into violence. The process portrays a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing student threats and demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the well-being and development of students within a supportive educational environment.

Our approach emphasizes prevention, collaboration, intervention and a positive school atmosphere to address potential threats and conflicts among students. Resolving conflicts and issues among students through mediation and collaboration with parents/guardians is a positive step toward creating a safe and supportive school environment. This strategy promotes open communication and seeks to address issues before they escalate. By taking a proactive stance and involving all stakeholders, our approach aims to create a safer and more supportive educational environment where students are empowered to solve their differences constructively.

Key Goals of Student Threat Assessment:

Prevention: By identifying and addressing potential issues early, the goal is to prevent situations from escalating into violence. This proactive stance can help create a safer and more secure school environment.
Comprehensive Approach: The Student Threat Assessment approach aims to comprehensively address potential threats by assessing and intervening with students who may be in distress or exhibiting concerning behavior. This approach acknowledges that there are often underlying factors contributing to such behavior, and it seeks to address those factors proactively.
Collaboration: The involvement of various stakeholders, including students, parents/guardians, teachers, and administrators, is crucial. Collaborative efforts ensure a more holistic understanding of the situation and allow for a collective approach to problem-solving.
Positive School Atmosphere: Fostering a positive school atmosphere is central to this approach. By focusing on conflict resolution, open communication, and involving students in constructive ways, the goal is to create a supportive environment where students feel empowered to address their differences in a healthy manner.
Mediation: Encouraging peer mediation is a proactive step towards conflict resolution. Mediating conflicts can help de-escalate situations and provide an opportunity for students to learn problem-solving and communication skills.
Involvement of Parents/Guardians: Engaging parents and guardians in the process is important for a comprehensive understanding of a student's situation. It also promotes a collaborative effort between the school and the student's support system.
Open Communication: The strategy of addressing issues before they escalate relies on open and effective communication. Encouraging dialogue among students, teachers, and other stakeholders is key to understanding concerns and finding solutions.
Empowerment: Empowering students to actively engage in problem-solving contributes to their personal development and helps create a school environment where conflicts are managed constructively.Top of Form

APS Threat Assessment Process

Step 1: Evaluate the Threat

School Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal/Designee) will……

Gather detailed information about the situation by interviewing the accused student, intended victim(s), and witnesses.
Review relevant intervention/support documentation.
Contact the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss the situation.

Step 2: Attempt to Resolve the Threat as Temporary

When possible, school staff will attempt to facilitate mediation sessions to resolve any temporary issues between students through open dialogue and understanding. School teams will also work with parent/guardians to determine needed services, interventions and/or disciplinary sanctions when appropriate.

Step 3: Determine the Level of the Threat

School Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal) will…

Collect and review all interview forms
Contact the Director of Student Threat Assessment for consultation to make a level determination

Level 1 Threat Determination

Convene the School Threat Assessment Team with parent(s)/guardian(s).
Determine strategies to resolve the issue
Connect the student with additional school-based or community-based services and interventions
Apply discipline when appropriate

Level 2 Threat Determination

A Licensed Clinical Therapist conducts a mental health safety assessment
Convene the Threat Assessment Team to address the threat
Determine strategies to resolve conflicts and address the situation urgently

Step 4: Follow-up

School Administrator (Principal/Assistant Principal/Designee) will……

Implement and monitor safety plans, making revisions as necessary
Document safety plans and maintain records of threat assessment progress
Maintain communication with the student and their family

This page was last updated on: June 30, 2022.