Connecticut State Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

School Safety and Security

The resources and information on this page have been compiled to assist community leaders, emergency management directors, educational professionals and emergency responders in developing and growing comprehensive and collaborative school security programs within their local communities. Additionally these resources explain regulations and statutory mandated requirements surrounding School Security. Public Act 13-3, established multiple programs, policy initiatives and mandates affecting local school districts and municipalities. A School Security Working Group was established by the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) to assist in the establishment of policy and administrative decisions related to Public Act 13-3.

 

School Safety and Security Plan Standards

Annually, the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. 10-222n establishes plan standards for the annual filing of the School Safety and Security Plans.

School Safety and Security Plans

Conn. Gen. Stat. 10-222m requires each local and regional board of education to annually review and update, if necessary, its School Safety and Security Plans. This requirement applies to all public schools in Connecticut which include Local Education Agencies (LEAs), Regional School Districts, Regional Education Service Centers (RESC),State Charter Schools, State Vocational Technical Schools and Publically Endowed High Schools. School districts without a plan may be denied state funding including School Construction Grant Funding and School Safety and Security Grant Funding
 
School Safety and Security plans must meet the standards developed annually by DEMHS (above). A flexible and scalable plan template which complies with the School Safety and Security Plan Standard is available through your DEMHS Regional Coordinator's Office. To submit a School Safety and Security plan, please email your appropriate DEMHS Regional Coordinator. 

 

School Security Competitive Grant Program

Public Act 13-3 established the School Security Competitive Grant Program to assist Public and Non-Public Schools in improving security infrastructure. This program is a competitive, reimbursement based program for school security infrastructure costs. There currently are four open rounds of funding being administered Round 1 (2013), Round 2 (2014), Round 3 (2017), and Round 4 (2018). Questions regarding this program can be directed to schoolsecuritygrant@ct.gov.

 

Higher Education Plan Review and Submission Requirements

Public Act 13-3 established a higher education plan review process that is codified in Conn Gen. Stat. 10a-156a.This statute required an initial plan/protocol submission by institutions of higher learning within Connecticut by October, 2013.
 
Biennially, an institution of higher learning shall review the security protocol plan with each of its chiefs of police or heads of campus security to determine whether such plan adequately addresses campus security concerns or requires revisions. In the event that revisions are required, the constituent unit or independent institution of higher education making revisions shall submit a revised security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) not later than August 1st of the year in which revisions are deemed necessary.

 

School Security Consultant Registry

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP)/Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) is in the process of revising the policies and standards regarding the school security consultant registry, as a service to the school community.