The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center has released two new fact sheets for schools on student perceptions of safety and school culture and climate assessments. These are two important elements to understand when working to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment and when addressing potential or actual threats.

Emergency preparedness planning teams at K-12 schools and school districts can use these fact sheets to support emergency operations plan (EOP) development, and as they incorporate the five mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery into their preparedness protocols. Within each fact sheet, the REMS center:

  • Provides background information on why providing a safe and supportive learning environment in which students feel safe is important;
  • Offers research from federal and national partners, as well as statistical information specific to each topic; and
  • Describes how these topics can be integrated into preparedness efforts, including the creation, review or revision of an EOP using the six-step planning process described in the “Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.”

Learn more about school climate and emergencies via the K-12 Key Topics section on the REMS’ website.