SMYRNA, Del. — The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) has announced the launch of the Delaware School Safety Center (DSSC), an expansion of its Comprehensive School Safety Program (CSSP).
The DSSC aims to strengthen Delaware schools’ ability to create safe and secure learning environments for students, staff, and families. This initiative includes a user-friendly website, accessible at https://de.gov/demaschoolsafety, which serves as a central resource hub. The platform offers training materials, actionable tools, and best practices for school safety planning and crisis response.
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“Ensuring a safe learning environment for every Delaware student is a shared priority of the highest importance,” stated Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security Joshua Bushweller, in a press release. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between first responders, school officials, parents, and students, supported by technology integration and emergency expertise.
The DSSC builds upon the success of the CSSP, which was established in 2012 under the Omnibus School Safety Act. The CSSP introduced standardized emergency planning procedures for Delaware schools, requiring safety plans, incident training, lockdown drills, and tabletop exercises. Delaware’s approach to school safety has pioneered advancements, including becoming the first state to provide consistent aerial maps and digitized school blueprints for schools across all 19 public districts and charter institutions.
Recent initiatives under Delaware’s school safety umbrella include the launch of Safe DE in 2023. Safe DE provides 24/7 anonymous reporting tools, enabling students, staff, and families to report safety concerns while offering access to crisis resources. Additionally, DSSC offers Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) training to help school-based teams proactively identify and mitigate risks.
New Center Offers Expanded School Safety and Security Services to Meet Evolving Needs
The DSSC adds new layers of support, providing essential resources for schools, students, and local communities, such as assistance with after-school events, law enforcement training, and safety assessments.
- After-School Events: Guidance and tools are available to help schools safely plan and manage extracurricular activities, community gatherings, and sports events.
- Law Enforcement Training: School resource officers (SROs) receive training focused on relationship-building, safety planning, and de-escalation techniques.
- Safety Assessments: DSSC professionals provide physical onsite assessments to help schools pinpoint vulnerabilities and implement evidence-based recommendations.
Secretary of Education Cindy Marten highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, “Safety doesn’t happen by accident; it happens by design. The launch of the Delaware School Safety Center represents our shared commitment to creating safe, welcoming schools where students can thrive, and teachers can teach.”
For more information on the Delaware School Safety Center, visit the official website at https://de.gov/demaschoolsafety.
