, students, bus drivers, support staff, will be prepared to handle a crisis situation, and what they will need to do. The plan also details how school and community resources can be used to create safe environments. An effective written plans includes: * Descriptions of the early warning signs of potentially violent behavior and procedures for identifying children who exhibit these signs. * Descriptions of effective prevention practices the school community has undertaken to build a foundation that is responsive to all children and enhances the effectiveness of interventions. * Descriptions of intervention strategies the school community can use to help troubled children. These include early interventions for students who are at risk of behavioral problems, and more intensive, individualized interventions and resources for students with severe behavioral problems or mental health needs. * A crisis intervention plan that includes immediate responses for imminent warning signs and violent behavior, as well as a contingency plan to be used in the aftermath of a tragedy. The plan must be consistent with federal, state, and local laws. It also should have the support of families and the local school board. The plan will prove most meaningful when the entire school community is involved in developing and implementing the plan. Everyone should be provided with relevant training and support on a regular basis. It can be helpful to establish a school based team to oversee the preparation and implementation of the safe school plan. This does not need to be a new team, but a designated core group should be entrusted with this important responsibility. Every school should conduct an annual ...
