Practical school safety guidance for parents, including questions to ask schools about security, emergency planning, reporting concerns, drills, training, and student safety.

Parents have a powerful voice in school safety. The most effective parents do not wait for a crisis, rely on rumors, or assume that “someone else” is handling it. They ask thoughtful questions, support school leaders when they do things well, and raise concerns in a calm, informed, and constructive way.

School safety is strongest when parents, students, educators, school support staff, administrators, and public safety partners work together. Security and emergency preparedness should be balanced with prevention, intervention, student support, discipline, supervision, and a positive school climate.

What Can Parents Do About School Safety?

Parents can help strengthen school safety by asking practical questions, listening to their children, following school safety procedures, and communicating concerns directly to school officials.

Dr. Kenneth S. Trump, President of National School Safety and Security Services, created this parent-focused guide to help families assess school security and emergency preparedness from a practical, real-world perspective.

10 Practical School Safety Questions Parents Should Ask

1. Ask Your Child About Safety at School

Students often know where safety gaps exist before adults do. Ask your child:

• Where do you feel safest at school?
• Where do you feel least safe?
• Are there places where adults are rarely present?
• Are there doors that are propped open or areas where students gather unsupervised?
• What would make you feel safer?

2. Know How Students Can Report Safety Concerns

Every student should know at least one trusted adult at school. Parents should ask:

• Does my child know who to go to with a safety concern?
• Are there anonymous reporting options, tip lines, or online reporting tools?
• Are students encouraged to report threats, weapons, bullying, harassment, or concerning behavior?
• Do students believe adults will take their concerns seriously?

3. Look at School Access and Visitor Procedures

Parents should pay attention to how people enter the school. Ask:

• Are exterior doors locked and monitored?
• Are visitors required to check in at the main office?
• Do visitors receive identification badges?
• Do staff members greet visitors and challenge unknown individuals?
• Are students or adults propping open doors?

4. Ask About School Safety Policies and Emergency Plans

Schools should have written safety and emergency procedures. Parents can ask:

• Does the school have written emergency guidelines?
• Are parents informed about basic emergency procedures?
• How are students and staff trained?
• How often are plans reviewed and updated?
• How will parents be notified during an emergency?

5. Ask Whether the School Has an Active Safety Team

A school safety plan should be a living process, not a binder sitting on a shelf. Ask:

• Does the school have a safety or crisis team?
• Who serves on the team?
• How often does the team meet?
• When was the last safety plan review?
• Are prevention, intervention, security, emergency preparedness, and recovery all addressed?

6. Ask How Police, Fire, EMS, and Safety Specialists Are Involved

Strong school safety planning includes collaboration with public safety partners. Parents can ask:

• Are police, fire, EMS, and emergency management officials involved in planning?
• Does the school work with a School Resource Officer or school security personnel?
• Have first responders toured the school?
• Has the school had an independent safety, security, and emergency preparedness assessment?

7. Ask Whether Emergency Procedures Are Practiced

Plans must be tested before a real emergency. Ask:

• Does the school conduct lockdown, evacuation, shelter, and severe weather drills?
• Are drills age-appropriate and trauma-informed?
• Do staff members receive debriefings after drills?
• Are tabletop exercises used with administrators, staff, and first responders?

8. Ask Whether All School Employees Receive Safety Training

School safety is not only the job of administrators or police. Parents should ask:

• Are teachers trained on emergency procedures?
• Are secretaries, custodians, aides, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, and substitutes trained?
• How often is training provided?
• Is training specific to the school’s actual procedures and layout?

9. Ask Whether the School Uses Outside Expertise and Current Best Practices

Parents can ask:

• Do school leaders review current school safety research and guidance?
• Do they attend professional training?
• Do they consult with experienced school safety professionals?
• Do they evaluate new safety products carefully before purchasing?

10. Ask Whether You Are Doing Your Part as a Parent

Parents also have responsibilities. Ask yourself:

• Do I follow visitor, parking, arrival, and dismissal procedures?
• Do I avoid bypassing safety rules for convenience?
• Do I talk with my child about safety concerns?
• Do I support teachers and administrators when they enforce rules?
• Do I raise concerns respectfully and constructively?

How Parents Can Raise School Safety Concerns Effectively

When parents are worried, emotions can run high. The best results usually come from a calm, documented, step-by-step approach.

Start with the principal or appropriate school administrator. Be specific about the concern. Share dates, times, locations, names, screenshots, or other relevant details when appropriate. Ask what steps will be taken and when you can expect follow-up.

Avoid relying only on social media posts, rumors, or group text chains. Public pressure may feel satisfying in the moment, but direct communication with school officials is usually more effective for solving specific safety problems.

Practical Safety Steps Parents Can Take at Home

Parents play a major role in reducing safety risks at school, at home, and in the community.

• Talk with children early and regularly about safety concerns.
• Monitor social media and online activity.
• Teach children to report threats, weapons, bullying, harassment, and concerning behavior.
• Eliminate youth access to weapons.
• Provide structure, supervision, and consistent discipline.
• Know where your child is going, who they are with, and what they are doing.
• Work cooperatively with school officials and police when concerns arise.
• Seek professional help early when your child is struggling emotionally, behaviorally, or socially.

Parents should not assume their child already understands basic safety issues. Children absorb information from friends, social media, videos, games, and unreliable online sources. They need calm, age-appropriate, truthful guidance from adults who care about them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parents and School Safety

What should parents ask schools about safety?

Parents should ask about visitor procedures, locked doors, supervision, emergency plans, safety teams, student reporting systems, staff training, drills, parent notification, and how police, fire, EMS, and school security personnel are involved in planning.

How can parents help improve school safety?

Parents can help by following school procedures, reporting concerns promptly, talking with their children, supporting reasonable safety rules, participating in parent groups, and communicating constructively with school officials.

What should I do if my child says they do not feel safe at school?

Listen carefully. Ask where, when, why, and who is involved. Document the concern and contact the school administrator directly. If the concern involves an immediate threat, weapon, violence, or self-harm risk, contact school officials and law enforcement right away.

Should parents know every detail of a school emergency plan?

No. Some security details should remain confidential. However, parents should know the basics, including how the school communicates during emergencies, where reunification information will come from, and what parents should and should not do during a crisis.

What is the most important thing parents can do for school safety?

The most important thing parents can do is stay engaged before there is a crisis. Talk with your child, know the school’s procedures, report concerns early, and work with school leaders in a focused and constructive way.

Parent Training and School Safety Support

Dr. Kenneth S. Trump has presented on parents and school safety for the National PTA annual convention and for local parent, school, and community groups across the nation.

National School Safety and Security Services provides school safety, security, emergency preparedness, training, assessments, and consultation for school leaders, boards, attorneys, and community stakeholders.

For parent training programs, school safety consultations, or additional resources, contact Dr. Ken Trump and follow the School Security Blog for ongoing updates on school safety, security, and emergency preparedness.