Grants Archive

The standardization of emergency response protocols allows everyone to clearly understand the safety steps to take during an emergency. Maryland promotes the use of the "I Love You Guys Foundation" standard response protocols (SRP) to help all school safety partners align efforts. The five protocols are clear, simple to remember, and allow school officials to respond effectively to all hazards. ​

The landscape of school safety is continuously evolving, shaped by shifting trends and security challenges. Nationwide, schools face an array of complex issues that necessitate a proactive approach to student and staff safety. It is essential that schools maintain documented, tested, and clearly communicated emergency plans and procedures in order to maintain a safe, healthy, and supportive environment conducive to learning.​

Engaging Caregivers to Support School During an Emergency

Special Considerations for Emergency Response, January 2026

Communcation to Local Superintendents, January 2026

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About Safe Schools Maryland

Safe Schools Maryland (SSMD) is a free, anonymous reporting system available to anyone who has information about something making a school or person at a school unsafe, now or in the future. Anyone can report any school or student safety ​concern, including mental health concerns.  SSMD is Maryland’s only official anonymous reporting system. 

All students should feel comfortable in Maryland’s schools. Children and young adults are stronger students when they feel safe and secure. Strong students go on to serve as the foundation for strong communities. 

Safe Schools Maryland exists to ensure that our schools and our students remain safe and secure. With Safe Schools Maryland, all interested members of our communities are able to report their school and student safety concerns anonymously and securely. 

Ways to submit a concern to Safe Schools Maryland

Submit your anonymous report using any of these options:

Instructions for reporting a concern

Thank you for taking the time to repo​rt your concerns anonymously.  

When completing the process, please provide as much information as possible to allow the professional report/tip takers to fully inve​stigate your concern​:

• Give a summary of the issue in the narrative section
• Include detailed information ab​out the people involved in the provided fields
• Attach photos and videos if they will assist with the investigation of your report/tip. ​

After you submit your concern

Once you submit, you will receive a Tip ID and password. Keep this information so that you can return to your report/tip in the future if you need to add information or to find out if the report/tip takers have asked any follow up questions. If you are using the app to submit your report/tip, be sure to log out when you are finished. 

Safe Schools Maryland Reports Received Dashboard

​​​The report counts in this dashboard represent each time an individual made a report of concern related to a K-12 school in Maryland to the system, which was forwarded to the appropriate official for a response. A report to the SSMD Anonymous Reporting System does not directly represent an incident at a Maryland school.​​​​​​

Frequently asked questions

Live (virtual or in-person) appearances, demonstrations, presentations, webinars/seminars & training

Such live appearances can last anywhere from a few minutes to one hour, depending on audience needs.

Schedule MCSS employees to visit​ virtually or in-person​ to speak to small or large audiences about Safe Schools Maryland by completing this form. Arrange a MCSS Guest Speaker for SSMD

Media resources

Safe Schools Maryland Reporting System in the news

• ABC​-2 News report
• WBAL-11 News report

MCSS videos

• Safe Schools Maryland - Who, When, and How (Elementary school video)​​
• Safe Schools Maryland - How to Submit an Anonymous Report

Current openings

There are currently no MCSS vacancies.​

Please check State of Maryland Jobapscloud page for recent MCSS job openings.

Internships

We have multiple internships available throughout the year at MCSS. Please fill out the form below for the internship you are interested in applying for.

Submit an internship application

Available Internships:

• Special Projects Internship (Assigned to Executive Director)
• Data Analysis / GIS Internship (Assigned to the Data Division)
• Smartsheet Product Development Internship (Assigned to Admin Division)

About the School Safety Subcabinet

The Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 (Senate Bill 1265) was signed into law by Governor Hogan on April 10, 2018. It significantly altered and expanded the role of the Maryland Center for School Safety. The legislation established the School Safety Subcabinet and School Safety Advisory Board. 

The Subcabinet serves as the regulatory authority and governing board of the Center, and its members are identified in statute. Each member may have a designee to represent them in their absence. ​

Members

Carey M. Wright, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Schools (Chair)​

Other members include:​

• ​Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health
• Alex Donahue, Executive Director of the Interagency Commission on School Construction​
• Colonel Michael Jackson, Secretary of State Police  ​​​
• Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General​​
• Carol A. Beatty, Secretary of Disabilities

View subcabinet bylaws - PDF - 220.85 KB

Introdu​ction

The Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) serves as an independent unit of the State government that provides grants, training, and support to public, non-public special education, and private schools throughout Maryland. MCSS was established in 2013 in an effort to provide a coordinated and comprehensive approach to school safety in Maryland. In 2018, the Governor and General Assembly worked together to enact comprehensive school safety legislation (Safe to Learn Act 2018) in order to ensure Maryland continues to be a leader in school safety initiatives.

MCSS promotes collaboration among students, parents, educators, mental health practitioners, law enforcement, and crime prevention practitioners, with a particular focus on the physical and emotional well-being of Maryland students. In concert with MCSS, Maryland public, non-public special education, and private schools are committed to fostering collaboration and effective communication among school staff, students, and law enforcement. Our shared efforts serve as a foundation for Maryland’s diverse schools to better identify and address the needs and concerns of our students. In the process, we are creating inclusive educational environments free from fear, harm, trauma, and unnecessary hardship.

Mission

To promote and enhance safer school communities.

Vision

Safe Schools

Our Vision Explained: What are safe schools?

Inclusive educational environments free from fear, harm, trauma, and unnecessary hardship.

Values

• Integrity
• Kindness
• Service
• Respect
• Professionalism​​

The Subcabinet, Advisory Board, and Center affirm that they shall not discriminate in any manner against any employee, applicant for employment, or client of services because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, or limited English proficiency, so as reasonably to preclude the performance of such employment and/ or services provided. The Subcabinet, Advisory Board, and Center further affirm that it shall take into consideration diversity, equity, and inclusion in its policies and procedures, as well as in setting and refining the research agenda.​

Training and emergency exercises are fundamental components of a comprehensive school safety preparedness program and should incorporate many activities. These activities should blend direct instruction (training and walkthroughs) and experiential learning (drills and exercises) methods. This blended approach helps develop the knowledge and skills necessary for a school’s response to all hazards.

In an effort to increase positive student and staff outcomes following training and drills, Maryland enacted legislation, Maryland House Bill 416, 2024 Session (Chapter 182), that specifically prohibits schools from using techniques that simulate an active assailant scenario. These banned techniques include simulated gunfire, explosions, and individuals acting as intruders. Additional MCSS requirements were enacted within the bill, which have led to the development of the following resources and initiatives.

Report a Concern About a Lockdown Drill

The form linked below is intended to provide a means by which an individual can provide information to Maryland state officials related to a school active assailant drill or training that they believe is traumatizing. 

Information provided will allow state officials to engage with local school personnel.​ As outlined in the statute, the Center, after consultation with the Maryland State Department of Education shall make the final determination as to whether the component complies with the requirements. 

Report a Concern Form

An after-action review (AAR) is a method used to facilitate a collaborative discussion that evaluates and analyzes the actions and management of an event or incident. The AAR meeting is a way to capture multiple event and response perspectives from school staff, school safety employees, and other pertinent people. During the meeting those participating will consider actions for the scope of the event, key decisions, and communications. 

The AAR process (discussion and report) identifies what went well and what could have gone better to identify lessons learned that nform the future.

Incident Tiers

The Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) identifies three tiers of incidents where an AAR is beneficial for Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Implementing an AAR for each tier type is recommended as it encourages continuous improvement in safety preparedness. These tiers are categorized as Tier I, II, and III and are defined below. Tier III incidents identified as critical life-threatening (CLT) incidents require an AAR process with submission to MCSS. 

• Tier I  incidents involve preplanned events within the school, such as field day, open house, parents conferences, prom, graduation, etc. MCSS does not require an AAR for Tier I events; however, school officials may find it helpful to use the form as a way to capture what went well and ways to improve for the next event. The AAR tool documents the discussion and generates a PDF report for you to save.
• Tier II incidents involve an unscheduled event that disrupts school activity or creates a risk to the school, staff, or students. The event does not rise to that of a critical life-threatening incident, therefore is not required to be reported to MCSS. Some examples of tier II events would be; weather-related emergencies, an escalated adult on the property, incidents with minimal staff and student involvement, etc.
• Tier III  incidents involve a life-threatening event that triggers the legal requirements as a critical life-threatening (CLT) incident. These events are required to be reported to MCSS within 24 hours of the occurrence and the AAR process must include MCSS staff. See the CLT page for more information.

Behavior Threat Assessment procedures are implemented in all Maryland schools and used to prevent school-based violence. All credible concerns are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team consisting of pertinent personnel and external partners such as local law enforcement and community-based behavioral health partners. This team gathers information that allows them ​to determine the level of threat.

Everyone has the right to learn in an environment that is safe and free from bullying, harassment, or intimidation. MCSS supports the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in efforts to make this a reality. 

Resources & Support

The following resources are intended to supplement information in support of a comprehensive approach to school safety.

Maryland State Department of Education

The Student Services and Strategic Planning  Branch provide leadership and technical assistance to local school systems to promote a safe environment conducive to learning and free from bullying and harassment.

Visit Maryland State Department of Education - Bullying Prevention​​

U.S. Secret Service Child Safety Outreach Program

Learn about:

• Childhood Smart Program - prevention education program serving to educate children K-12, as well as adults, regarding internet and personal safety.
• Operation Safe Kids - provides a document containing biographical data, photograph, and digitized inkless fingerprints.

Visit the U.S. Secret Service Child Safety Outreach Program​

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Resources

NCMEC is the nation’s largest and most influential child protection organization.

Online Safety Education for Kids & Families

NetSmartz is NCMEC's online safety education program. It provides age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children to  be safe online. The goal is helping children become aware of potential online risks and empowering them to prevent victimization by making safe choices on - and offline. ​

Visit NetSmartz

CyberTipline

NCMEC’s CyberTipline is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children. 

​​​Visit the CyberTipline

StopBullying.gov

Managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this website provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying. 

Visit StopBullying.gov

Tips for Law Enforcement

This tip card, jointly prepared by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), includes more than 20 recommendations from subject-matter experts working in law enforcement, youth trauma, mental health, computer crimes, victim services, and education. It provides guidance on cyberbullying prevention, preparation, response, and investigation to law enforcement administrators and first responders.

​Read Preparing and Responding to Cyberbullying: Tips for Law Enforcement - PDF

Cyberbullying Research Center

The Cyberbullying Research Center has information and presentations broken out into many school safety categories, including cyberbullying, social media usage, and more. 

Visit the Cyberbullying Research Center 

Not in Our Town

This movement was created to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe and inclusive communities. The site contains information on how to start a campaign and resources regarding diversity, inclusion, hazing, and mental health. 

Visit Not In Our Town 

Committee for Children

Dedicated to promoting the safety, well-being, and success of children in school and in life, this resource is meant to empower kids and the adults around them with information and resources to help them understand what bullying is, who is affected by it, and what the community can do to prevent it.

View bullying prevention resources from the Comm​​ittee for Children

The National Association of School Psychologists

The National Association of School Psychologists is committed to supporting accessible, high-quality education that prepares children for college, work, and citizenship. Creating safe and supportive schools that are free from bullying, discrimination, harassment, aggression, violence, and abuse is essential to this mission. This resource can assist families and educators in bullying prevention.​

Visit the National Association of School Psychologists - Bullying Prevention

When a child is being used by another person to gain something (e.g., money, popularity or personal gratification) it may be considered exploitation and is against the law. There are different forms of exploitation impacting children at a growing rate of concern. Some examples include sextortion, human trafficking, financial extortion, and criminal exploitation. 

Resources & Support

The following resources are intended to help inform parents, students, school personnel, and other partners about the threat and ways to protect children. 

Schoolsafety.gov

SchoolSafety.gov is a federal website that serves as a centralized hub for school safety resources, guidance, and tools for K–12 schools and districts. It brings together evidence-based practices, training materials, and funding information from multiple federal agencies to help schools prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from safety threats.

Visit SchoolSafety.gov​

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

NCMEC provides a variety of resources for parents and children about exploitation topics to include these videos and guides about sextortion. In addition to providing resources to avoid becoming a victim it also is the where you can report being a victim to get help.

Sextortion Resources

Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Child Exploitation Notification Program can be used to report child exploitation and to find resources for children who have been exploited and their caregivers.

Child Exploitation Notification Program

Pursuant to Maryland Ann. Code Ed. Art.§  7-1510(g)​, Maryland public schools are required to report to MCSS with 24 hours when a critical life-threatening (CLT) incident occurs on school grounds. 

COMAR 14.40.05 A critical, life-threatening incident means an event which;

• Results in an individual being charged with a threat of mass violence directed at a school under Criminal Law Article, §3-1001, Annotated Code of Maryland;
• Meets the criteria for a threat of mass violence but does not result in criminal charges due to the age limitation under Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-8A-03(f), Annotated Code of Maryland; or
• Occurs on school grounds and: (i) Results in death or serious bodily injury; or (ii) Requires activation of a school’s emergency plans and substantially disrupts the normal or orderly operation of a school.

School grounds means; 

• (a) The premises where the school is located and operated, including all buildings, physical structures, and real property owned or leased by the local school system for the operation of a school;
• (b) School transportation vehicles either owned by or contracted for by the local school system for the purposes of student transportation; and
• (c) Locations used for school sponsored activities or approved by the school or school system for attendance of students as part of a field trip.

"Serious bodily injury" means an injury inflicted on an individual that results in:

• (a) substantial risk of death;
• (b) Extreme physical pain;
• (c) Protracted and obvious disfigurement; or
• (d) Protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1365(h)(3).

The diagram below outlines the steps and timeframes involved in the CLT reporting process. 

Resources​ & Support

The following resources are intended to supplement information in support of a comprehensive approach to school safety.

A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety

An informational pamphlet provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that helps readers understand the complexities of online child exploitation.

A Parents Guide to Internet Safety

Safe Online Surfing Program

Created for students in third through eighth grades, the resource provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) covers age-appropriate topics, such as cyberbullying, passwords, malware, social media, and more. The program also provides teachers with a curriculum that meets state and federal Internet safety mandates.

Safe Online Surfing

Cybersecurity for K-12 Teachers

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other federal government agencies offer a variety of support, information, and resources for K-12 teachers to help their students become the next generation of cybersecurity professionals such as tip cards, videos, fact sheets, toolkits and more.

Cybersecurity Resources 

Digital Citizenship Curriculum

Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a rapidly changing world, offers a curriculum with interactive lessons and activities for students.

Digital Citizenship Lessons 

Connect Safely

Connect Safely is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy, and security. Here, you’ll find research-based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news, and commentary on all aspects of tech use and policy.​

ConnectSafely.org​ 

Maryland schools conduct drills with students and school staff during the school year to practice various emergency procedures. Drills are most effective when the procedure has been tested first by school staff to make sure the steps are clear and keep people safe.  It is better to talk it through, before you walk it through. 

Tabletops are one type of discussion-based exercise that school staff can use to talk it through. These exercises allow team members to discuss their roles and responses for various types of emergencies. Focused tabletops can often be completed in a few minutes and help reinforce participants' understanding of emergency procedures.

Simulated emergency scenarios require staff to draw upon their knowledge and experience to determine the best course of action. Engaging in tabletop discussions and drills regularly builds muscle memory increasing the likelihood school staff respond to an emergency situation in a way that minimizes harm and maximizes a quick recovery.

Download the ​Exercise Self-Evaluation Form to Document Next Steps - PDF - 287.06 KB

School Teams Consider "Are We Ready?"

​​Resources & Support

The following resources are intended to supplement information in support of a comprehensive approach to school safety.

The "I Love U Guys" Foundation

The foundation has long been a conduit for research-based best practices that help people in schools and other public spaces respond to crises.  The program includes Standard Response Protocols for all hazard emergencies and reunification procedures. All resources can be downloaded for free.

Note: The Maryland Center for School Safety provides this information in order to include useful content for stakeholders.  To the extent that any of the organizations listed also offer training courses or materials for sale, MCSS does not endorse or otherwise recommend those classes or materials.

​​​The “I Love U Guys” Foundation

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health. For more than 70 years, they've put science into action to help children stay healthy so they can grow and learn, to help families, businesses, and communities fight disease and stay strong, and to protect the public’s health.​

CDC on emergency preparedness and response​

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA provides resources to help anyone prepare for all types of emergencies. The National Preparedness Course Catalog offers hundreds of free video courses to the public, educators, and first responders. 

National Preparedness Course Catalog

Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM)

MDEM is Maryland's official home for emergency management info, resources, and support.

Maryland Department of Emergency Management

Request MCSS at your next event

If you are interested in inviting MCSS to participate in your event, please submit the following form.*​

*Requests for Safe Schools Maryland Reporting System presentations should be placed through our "Safe Schools Maryland Appearances" form.

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