Student Threat Assessment - Fair Notice for Students, Parents & Caregivers
Fair Notice can be given through letters to parents & caregivers, brochures, media releases, parent meetings, staff meetings, new student orientation, or all of the above. Schools may also advise students and families by including a brief 'Fair Notice' statement in emails, student agendas, in assemblies, on the school website, and/or in student and family meetings.
What behaviours initiate a student threat assessment?
A student threat assessment will be initiated for behaviours including, but not limited to:
- Serious violence or violence with intent to harm or kill
- Verbal/written direct threats to harm/kill others (clear, direct, plausible)
- The use of technology or writings that suggest that the SOC has engaged in threat-related behaviours or has demonstrated unusual interest in other instances of mass casualty
- Online threats to harm/kill others
- Indicators of suicidal ideation as it relates to fluidity (intent to harm/kill self or others)
- Possession of weapons (including replicas)
- Bomb threats and fire setting
- Sexual intimidation, extortion, or assault
- Ongoing issues with bullying behaviours and/or harassment
- Gang related intimidation and/or violence
- Targeted hate incidents motivated by factors including, but not limited to race, culture, religion, and/or sexual orientation
Duty to report
To keep school communities safe and caring, staff, parents & caregivers, students, and community members must report all threat-related behaviours.
What is a threat?
A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Threats may be verbal, written, drawn, posted on the Internet, or made by gesture. Threats must be taken seriously, investigated, and responded to.
What is a Threat Assessment Team?
The school has a Threat Assessment Team that includes the principal(s), counsellor(s), teachers and a member of the police agency.
What is the purpose of a student threat assessment?
- To ensure the safety of students, staff, parents, caregivers and others
- To ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat
- To understand factors contributing to the subject of concern’s (SOC) behaviour
- To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the person of concern
- To promote the emotional and physical safety of all
What happens in a student threat assessment?
All threat-related behaviour by a student shall be reported to the principal, who will activate the threat assessment process for the initial response. Once the team has been activated, interviews may be held with students, the SOC, parents, caregivers, and staff to determine the level of risk and develop an appropriate response to the incident. Intervention plans will be developed and shared with parents, caregivers, staff, and students as required.
Can I refuse to participate in a threat assessment process?
It is important for all parties to engage in the process. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process by the student or parent/caregiver, the threat assessment process will continue in order to promote a safe and caring learning environment.
Collection Notice
The school district is subject to personal information privacy laws and will undertake the collection of this information in compliance with the requirements of such laws, including by limiting collection to information that is relevant and necessary to address a risk or threat and by ensuring that information is collected from publicly available open-source social media sites. The school district will not collect information as part of a threat assessment unless there is reason to believe that a risk exists. Information collected as part of a threat assessment may be provided to law enforcement authorities in appropriate circumstances.