Hi friends,

I hope you're enjoying these last days of summer! As we savor the warm weather, I wanted to share some highlights from our busy season and let you in on the vital work we've been doing to make our schools safer.

Kicking Off Back-to-School Season
August marks the start of a new school year, and we’ve been hard at work ensuring that safety is a top priority as students return to classrooms. We kicked off the back-to-school season by providing essential resources for families, including a checklist of critical safety questions to ask your school.

A safety plan is as essential as binders, notebooks, and pencils. Preparation is key to protecting our children, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Download the checklist as a PDF here.

LEARN MORE →

Florida Schools Reopen with Enhanced Safety Measures
In Florida, schools have reopened with more robust safety protocols thanks to the implementation of House Bill 1473, known as the Florida School Safety Act.

These measures include keeping school entrances locked during school hours, securing classrooms, and enforcing a discipline policy for repeat safety violations. We’re one step closer to safeguarding our students and educators, and we’re committed to pushing for even more improvements in school safety.

Celebrating Debbi Hixon's Reelection
We’re thrilled to announce that Stand With Parkland board member Debbi Hixon has won her reelection for the At-Large Broward County School Board Seat 9! Debbi’s tireless dedication to school safety and mental health services, fueled by her personal loss of her husband, Chris, in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy, continues to inspire and drive our mission forward. Her leadership will be invaluable as we work together to create safer schools.

A Whirlwind Summer of Advocacy
Our summer has been packed with advocacy efforts across the country. One of the highlights from July was in Phoenix, where we joined the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) for the "Surviving the Unthinkable" panel. This event was a critical moment in our ongoing mission to protect every student, as we collaborated with school leaders and safety experts to advance our shared goals.

From the US Secret Service New Jersey School Safety Seminar, to the Florida School Safety Summit in Orlando, to meetings with Congress in Washington D.C., to the 25th TASRO Conference in Alabama, with our participation in the NASRO conference in Phoenix, and the Hawaii State Threat Assessment Conference, we’ve been tirelessly spreading Stand with Parkland’s message and building partnerships.

Advocating for Action on Suicide Prevention and Firearm Violence
Every day, 118 Americans lose their lives to firearm violence, with over half being preventable suicides. I, along with Dr. Kelly Posner, have co-authored an important op-ed on the need to combine the Columbia Protocol with red-flag laws to tackle this crisis. It’s time for actionable change to protect our children and communities. Read more about how we can make a difference →

CLICK TO READ →

Reflecting on Progress: Two Years of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
This summer marked the two-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), a monumental victory in school safety advocacy. Crafted with Stand With Parkland’s DNA, the BSCA enhanced school security, mental health resources, and responsible firearm ownership laws, and it also established the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse through the Luke and Alex School Safety Act, setting a new standard for school safety practices nationwide.

Our inclusive, non-partisan approach was key to this success, and we couldn’t have done it without your support.

Honoring Our Loved Ones: MSD Demolition and Memorial
Six years after the tragic events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the 1200 building was demolished. In its place, a meaningful memorial will be established to honor those we lost. The demolition of this preserved crime scene is a poignant reminder of the work that remains to be done in school safety. We will continue to fight to ensure that no other community endures what we did.

We’re seeing progress, friend — but there is still so much work to be done. Please consider a donation to help make your voice heard and support our work — every dollar has a real impact on the safety of students and teachers in our country.

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Thank you,

Tony Montalto
President, Stand With Parkland