As the back-to-school season commences in Wisconsin, Attorney General Josh Kaul is reminding students, parents, and school administrators about the resources available through the Office of School Safety (OSS). Since its inception in 2018, OSS has developed essential materials aimed at preventing school violence.
“DOJ’s Office of School Safety works diligently to help keep our schools safe, and its services will be available throughout the 2024-25 school year,” said Attorney General Kaul. “We are committed to working to secure long-term funding for the Office of School Safety so it can continue helping to keep schools safe far beyond this school year.”
One notable service is the “Foundations of Targeted Violence Prevention” eLearning module, made public in 2023 by OSS in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis, National Threat Evaluation and Reporting (NTER) Office. This course educates individuals on preventing acts of targeted violence by identifying behaviors during the planning stages and understanding where to report concerning information.
The course is available in both national and Wisconsin-specific versions. The latter includes resources tailored for reporting threatening behavior within Wisconsin. Both versions are accessible online at any time.
In addition to this eLearning module, OSS offers several programs designed to protect educational staff and students. In 2020, OSS introduced Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO), a confidential statewide reporting system that operates around the clock. This platform allows concerns to be reported before violence occurs.
OSS also provides free training on various aspects of violence prevention and crisis response. These include Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and Standard Reunification Method (SRM). Regional trainings are available upon request.
Furthermore, OSS has established twelve Critical Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) across Wisconsin. These teams consist of multidisciplinary volunteers such as law enforcement officials, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and school administrators who support K-12 schools during crisis events. They offer resources for recovery processes including long-term mental health services.
Regarding funding for these initiatives, earlier this year Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 1050 into law. This legislation provides bridge funding for OSS through September 2025 while efforts continue to secure stable funding as part of the 2025-2027 biennial budget.