FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
CONTACT PERSONS
NAME:
Lorraine Allen
Julie Collins
PHONE:
(850) 245-0416
SUNCOM:
205-0416
E-MAIL:
Lorraine.Allen@fldoe.org
Julie.Collins@fldoe.org
K12:
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2006-42
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
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District School Superintendents
FROM:
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Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.
DATE:
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March 27, 2006
SUBJECT:
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Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability’s School
Safety and Security Best Practices Self-Assessment Report Submittal Process
The Florida Department of Education’s goal of
Highest Student Achievement
is one of the top
priorities for K-12 schools. In order to reach this goal, the Department recognizes that students learn
best in a school environment that is safe, healthy, and drug free. In order to support this goal, the
Office of Safe and Healthy Schools is providing the 2005-2006 School Safety and Security Best
Practices. Section 1006.07(6), Florida Statutes, requires school districts use the Office of Program
Policy Analysis and Government Accountability’s (OPPAGA) School Safety and Security Best
Practices to conduct an annual self-assessment of their school district’s safety and security programs.
A Microsoft Word version of the self-assessment form is available on the Department of Education’s
web site at:
http://www.firn.edu/doe/besss/safe_passage/safe_passage.htm
CHERI PIERSON YECKE, PH.D.
CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
March 27, 2006
Page Two
The 2005-2006 School Safety and Security Best Practices deviate only slightly in a few areas from
2004-2005. The updates are located in the section regarding “Transportation” (Indicator 28).
As required by Section 1006.07(6), Florida Statutes, based on the self-assessment findings, the
superintendent shall provide to the school board recommendations that identify strategies and
activities the school district should implement in order to improve school safety and security.
According to the law, each school board must receive the School Safety and Security Best Practices
Self-Assessment results at a publicly-noticed school board meeting so as to provide the public an
opportunity to hear the school board members discuss and take action on any reported findings. Each
superintendent shall report the self-assessment results and school board action to the Commissioner
of Education within 30 days following the school board meeting. The school board meeting should
be held on or before
July 1, 2006
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As you prepare to submit your report, please be aware the deadline may not be extended as waivers
may not be given for safety activities. The report may be submitted electronically or by regular mail.
Reports must be received in the Department of Education no later than
July 31, 2006.
To submit the report electronically, send the self-assessment document to Julie Collins at
Julie.Collins@fldoe.org. To submit by regular mail, please send an electronic copy (Microsoft Word
or PDF file), on a disk, to:
Julie Collins
Office of Safe and Healthy Schools
Florida Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street, Room 501
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
The best practices provide a structure to assess the effectiveness of district-level safety and security
programs and a means to solicit input and improve those programs for the benefit of Florida’s
students and schools. To assist you in this process, the Department has revised the School Safety and
Security Best Practices Technical Assistance Paper to reflect the 2005-2006 changes. A copy of the
Technical Assistance Paper may be found online at:
http://www.firn.edu/doe/besss/safe_passage/safe_passage.htm
For any questions, please contact Lorraine Allen, Director, Office of Safe and Healthy Schools, or
Julie Collins, School Emergency Management Planning, Office of Safe and Healthy Schools.
CPY/lha
