Federal Update: Enhancing School Safety: Preparing School Leaders for Anonymized Threats

Anonymous threats, including those posted to social media, are taxing school and law enforcement resources, contributing to losses in instruction time and traumatizing school communities. Join representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency School Safety Task Force to explore evidence-based practices and share research-informed strategies to address the evolving security risks that K-12 schools face. This session will focus on the Anonymized Threat Response Guidance (ATRG) and other federal resources and tools designed to help support schools in identifying and implementing scalable response solutions to threats originating on anonymized platforms and mediums. Presenters will outline the steps that school leaders can take to assess the level of concern posed by a threat, and how to respond in a balanced way to minimize stress on their communities. The ATRG is designed to help local education agencies, law enforcement, and community partners create tailored approaches to addressing anonymous threats, from assessment to response. This session is highly interactive, with speakers soliciting input from the audience throughout the discussion.