What should MRSD staff do when they are concerned a student poses a threat of harming others?

It is critical that any school employee who has knowledge of a student who may pose a threat of substantial harm to others report this information immediately and directly to an administrator so that the student of concern receives appropriate attention. 

• If the student is in possession of lethal means (such as guns, weapons, knives, medications), secure the area and prevent other students from accessing this area. Lethal means must be removed without putting anyone in danger. Call law enforcement to remove lethal means.

• If imminent danger is not present but a concern about harm to others exists, the administrator/counselor initiates the screening process below:

Level 1

A. TRIGGER:  

Counselor/Admin is made aware of a student behavior that (may) involve(s) an act of violence or implied threat of violence.   Awareness may come in the course of a discipline investigation, a counseling session, third party student or parent complaint/concern, etc..  YOU MIGHT USE ONE OR MORE OF THE Level 1 Interview Tools IN YOUR INITIAL COUNSELING SESSION OR INITIAL DISCIPLINE INVESTIGATION TO STREAMLINE INFORMATION GATHERING.  Using the tools does not constitute a Level 1 Threat Assessment (L1TA). Only staff who are trained in threat assessment or are working alongside those trained in using these materials should access the resources contained in this section. 

Reminder: You must provide notification (attempt w/in 12 hours by phone, always w/in 24 hours in writing) to parents of students who have been threatened (see E[4] below).

B. DECIDE (whether to do a full L1TA): 

Counselor/Administrator meet immediately to decide whether a FULL L1TA should be done.

• 1. Review Moving to a Level 1 Assessment questions (p. 4)  Is there enough information to decide to move forward with L1TA?*    

*If Yes, GO TO C (below).    

*If No, proceed with appropriate school interventions/responses.  

*If you are unsure, use one or more of the Level 1 Interview Tools to gather more information, and then decide whether to continue with a full L1TA.  

C. PROCEED with L1TA INFORMATION GATHERING* (day 1):

*Parent must be notified that an assessment is being done.

• 1. Schedule L1TA meeting with parent and team members (allow 1 day to gather information prior to the meeting); 

  2. Contact team members to divide information gathering tasks (YOU HAVE 1 DAY!);

  3. Gather information with Level 1 Interview Tools to present at L1TA meeting, including:

     • (p. 12-13)   Teacher/Staff Questionnaire(s) for any who know the student well (may forego if they will attend L1TA meeting)

     • (p. 14-16)   Parent Interview (may forego if parent will attend L1TA meeting)

     • (p. 7-9)         Student Interview

     • (p. 10-11)   Student-Witness Interview(s)

D. L1TA MEETING (day 2):

• Participants: Counselor, Administrator, Parent, additional Counselor, others as appropriate (e.g. case manager, outside agency representative, teacher, etc).

• Outcomes: 

1.  L1 Team Reviews Information Gathered

2.  L1 Team Completes L1TA Protocol (Steps 1-3, pages 17-22, and STOP Review,  page 23.  The    

Companion to Level 1 Protocol 34-38 provides detailed explanations of each question in Step 3)

3.   Use STOP Review (p.23) to Determine the Team’s Level of Concern on a Continuum of:

• • • Reduced/low/minor 

(student does not pose a threat of violence nor display clear indicators of proactive violence.  

• • • Confirmed/medium

(student requires additional assistance and monitoring due to problematic behaviors or other issues)

• • • Heightened/high

(either the student poses a risk to self or others, or Team is unable to determine if that is the case.

4.  Take Action

• • • If  Reduced/low/minor:

Discontinue the assessment and develop an appropriate monitoring plan, and school response (e.g. warning, intervention, discipline, counseling, etc)

• • • If  Confirmed/medium:

Develop a safety and monitoring plan, staff roles for implementing the plan, and dates of progress monitoring and plan review, and school response. (see Recommended Interventions Checklist p. 26-27 and Possible Intervention List)

• • • If Heightened/high:  (8-14-17:  Consult with special education director and/or school psychologist.) 

Consultation may lead to a team decision to request a law enforcement or mental health evaluation or consult, and/or a Level 2 assessment.  Other responses could include a re-entry meeting before the student returns to school (to establish a safety and monitoring plan), or a combination of these, and school response.  (see Recommended Interventions Checklist, p. 27-29; Requesting Level 2 Assessment, p. 29)

E. Documentation and Notification:

1. L1TA forms and any other information generated are copied and stored in two envelopes.  One goes in manila envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL and stored in the CUM file, and the other is sent to District Office (Office of SPED)

2. Upon discovery, notify parents of student in question. If a Parent Interview is to be conducted, arrange at the same time.

3. Within 12 hours, attempt to CALL (and document) parents of any student whose name appears on a list or has been threatened with violence or harm (Policy JFCM).

4. Within 24 hours, send a written follow-up notification to those parents and document in Notification Log as well (Policy JFCM). 

Level 1 Forms

 (the forms below are available in the Threat Assessment section of the MRSD Supported Education Resources folder available: here).