Dear friend,

This summer has been such an eventful one for the school safety movement, and we’re excited to showcase our work! But before we do, we wanted to cover some resources as families are preparing for their children to head back to school. 

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We have put together a series of five questions families need to ask to ensure their children’s safety as the school year begins. 

1. Does the school have an active shooter policy? 
2. Does the school train all staff members for active shooter scenarios?
3. Does the school have a single point of entry (access control) during school hours?
4. Is there a way students and staff can report threats?
5. How are parents notified when a threat has been made to the school?

Download these five questions as a PDF here. 

We have model responses that you should get from your schools available – free of charge – when you join our school safety movement. 

Summer vacation hasn’t quite ended for many students, and Stand with Parkland has a reminder regarding the safety of your children. Whether firearms have been in your family for generations or are just a recent addition, be sure to educate yourself and your entire family regarding firearm safety. Please take the time to make certain your firearms are safely stored where they are not likely to be stolen and where children cannot access them. 

For full guidelines, click here. 

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made this summer towards a brighter future of safer schools!

We traveled to DC for the introduction of two pieces of national bipartisan legislation: the ALYSSA (Alert Systems) Act H.R. 4999, named for Lori Alhadeff’s daughter, and the Strengthening Our Schools Act H.R. 5000.

As always, our efforts are bipartisan – we are dedicated to working across the aisle in order to address all of the facets that lead to violence in our schools. We met with Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D NJ-05), Mario Diaz-Balart (R FL-26), Brian Fitzpatrick (R PA-10), and Don Davis (D NC-01).

We were honored to visit the White House to meet with members of the Biden Administration, Stefanie Feldman - Senior Advisor to the President, the leadership of the Office of Public Engagement, including Director Steve Benjamin. We discussed the many facets regarding the implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a landmark piece of school safety legislation we helped pass last year.

Additionally, we were able to continue our dialogue with the Domestic Policy Council by meeting with the new Director, Neera Tanden. We discussed the effects of school safety laws and policies implemented after the Parkland tragedy and other initiatives that should be acted upon.

Thanks to Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the 17 victims of the Parkland massacre are seen in the halls of Congress every day. Our Treasurer, Tom Hoyer, and members Jennifer and Tony Montalto thanked the Congressman for honoring the victims.

Stand with Parkland president Tony Montalto and member Max Schacter attended the Florida School Safety Summit in Orlando, which was an incredibly successful event thanks to the staff from the Office of Safe Schools! 

As families head into a new school year, Stand with Parkland remains committed to making our nation’s schools safer for all. 

Mass violence is not a Democrat or Republican problem – it is an American problem, and no other family should have to endure the pain we’ve experienced. Please support our work with a contribution of any amount so we can continue our successful, bipartisan advocacy efforts. 

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Thank you, friend, for being part of our school safety movement. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and safe upcoming school year! 

– Stand with Parkland