WEST COLUMBIA, SC – In response to recent acts of violence on school campuses, the SC Department of Education noted in a recent report, law enforcement officials and school safety experts have cited research indicating that before a student commits a violent act on a school campus, warning signs are usually evident. Research indicates that if appropriate action is taken in light of the warning signs, the risk of violence can be mitigated.
South Carolina law is now requiring that each school in the state identifies key staff to serve on a threat assessment team. South Carolina Safe Schools, in collaboration with a number of offices and other sources, has created Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (BTAM), a fact-based, systematic, process designed to identify, inquire, assess, and manage potentially dangerous or violent situations. Its use is required in all South Carolina schools. In Lexington Two, that means our schools have multidisciplinary threat assessment teams that focus on violence prevention and resolution, increasing access to counseling services and supports, and decreasing long-term suspensions and alternative placements.
Use of the BTAM comes when a student of any age makes a concerning comment or has a concerning behavior, and then a threat assessment team goes to work to distinguish between the student making a threat and posing a threat. The assessment team uses a screening tool to talk with the student, gather information and determine possible next steps, if any. Along the way, team members will reach out to the family, seeking to help the student resolve any issues and find a more positive path.
Have a question about the BTAM? Contact Santana Sanguiliano, Lexington Two’s director of security and risk, at [email protected]
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