The New Jersey Department of Education announced in a broadcast memo that it’s offering behavioral threat assessment and management training for school communities through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act Grant Program.
On Aug. 1, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation (P.L. 2022, c. 83) requiring the establishment of threat assessment teams in public schools. Accordingly, the board of education of each school district and the board of trustees of each charter school or renaissance school project shall develop and adopt a policy for the establishment of a multidisciplinary threat assessment team at each school.
Pursuant to the law, the NJDOE in consultation with state law enforcement agencies and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, must develop guidelines for school districts, charter schools and renaissance school projects regarding the establishment and training of threat assessment teams.
Participants in the one-day virtual training sessions will learn guiding principles regarding threat assessment and management, including how to identify and investigate threats and other concerning behavior. The course is designed for district administrators, teaching staff, school safety specialists, school psychologists, school counselors, school social workers, mental health professionals, school resources officers, local law enforcement and other school personnel. Local educational agencies are strongly encouraged to register multiple representatives.
School safety specialists who attend this event will receive appropriate hours toward certification renewal. Stakeholders already had the opportunity to take the training earlier this month in two separate sessions. There is one remaining session left in August: Register using the link below.
Additional course offerings will be available in the future. Questions can be sent via email to the Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning or by calling 609-376-3574.