Kentucky Safe Schools Week, sponsored by the Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS), will be Oct. 17-23. This year’s theme – “Be a Safety Star” – will focus on spreading kindness, treating others with respect and abiding by safety rules and support.

Kentucky Safe Schools Week encourages students to help maintain and celebrate healthy and safe school environments. From COVID-19 protocols such as handwashing and masking to safety drills for lockdown and evacuations, “Safety Stars” engage in school safety practices with dedication.

The KCSS website includes a variety of teaching aids on school safety using the Safe Schools Week theme: “Share,” “Treat,” “Abide” and “Rise.” The toolkit contains resources such as lessons, videos and interactive websites. Resources also are available for school administrators, parents and the community.

Along with the resources, KCSS is encouraging participants to take the “Be a Safety Star” pledge. Last year, there were more than 40,000 total pledges across the Commonwealth.

I pledge to:

  • Share, care and spread kindness everywhere I go.
  • Treat everyone with the respect, we all deserve!
  • Abide by all school safety rules.
  • Rise up and shine, helping others who need support.

“I encourage all Kentuckians to get involved and encourage one another when it comes to school safety,” said KCSS Executive Director Jon Akers. “School safety is our first priority and shining a light on all areas of need, compliance and initiative improves our culture and environment.”

Kentucky Safe Schools Week coincides with America’s Safe Schools Week, which is sponsored by the National School Safety Center. Safe Schools Week encourages schools across the nation to reinvigorate their school safety programs and provide creative resources to improve involvement from students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members.