A Message From MCPS—Ensuring Student Safety
Dear MCPS Community:
As the new school year nears, we know many of you have safety on your minds. While our core purpose as a school system is preparing all students to thrive in their futures, we know this cannot be achieved if students don’t feel safe and welcome in our schools.
To provide a safe and welcoming environment for learning, MCPS takes a comprehensive approach to ensuring student safety that includes bus and building safety; child abuse, bullying and suicide prevention; and environmental safety.
Below are just a few of the many steps we take to keep students safe:
Building and Bus Safety
- Controlled access systems and entryways at schools
- A school resource officer in every high school (Read more)
- A visitor management system at schools that screens visitors though state and national sex offender databases
- Updated Emergency preparedness plans for each school (Learn more)
- Hundreds of dedicated MCPS security staff who support elementary, middle and high schools across the county
- A comprehensive report on school safety and security (Read the 2018 report and action plan)
- Security cameras in all high and middle schools, with cameras being added to elementary schools this year
- Cameras on the interior and exterior of most buses, with cameras being added to all buses by the end of the school year (Watch the “Respect the Bus” video)
- Focus and vigilance from all staff members on building security
- Pedestrian safety resources (Learn more)
Prevention of Child Abuse
Bullying and Harassment Prevention
- A streamlined process for reporting incidents of bullying (Bullying Report Form)
- Training for all employees on preventing and reporting bullying, harassment and intimidation
- Lessons on digital citizenship and combatting cyberbullying and harassment for students (Learn more)
- Guidelines regarding student gender identity matters (Read more)
- Counseling support for students
- Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity (Read the guidelines)
- Policy ACA: Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency (Read the policy)
- Annual Choose Respect healthy teen dating conference (Learn more)
Mental Health and Wellness
- Suicide prevention training for students at all middle and high schools
- BtheOne mental health campaign in partnership with Montgomery County, Every Mind and Family Services, Inc. (Learn about the campaign)
- A comprehensive health curriculum for students at all levels
- Mental health resources and crisis supports for students (Learn more)
- Mandatory training for all staff on suicide prevention and intervention
- A streamlined reporting process for suicide risk reporting (Read more)
- Linkages to Learning initiative (Read more)
- Recovery Academic Program for students emerging from addiction (Learn more)
- Resources for Montgomery County Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment (See the resources)
- Behavioral threat assessment training for staff
- Restorative justice programs for students (Learn more)
Environmental Safety
We look forward to a great and safe school year with you!
- Montgomery County Public Schools
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