FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
MEMORANDUM
Contact Information
Julie Collins
(850) 245-0676
Julie.collins@fldoe.org
K12: 2008-39
TO:
District Superintendents
FROM:
Dr. Frances Haithcock
DATE:
May 20, 2008
SUBJECT:
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability’s
School Safety and Security Best Practices
Self-Assessment Report
Submittal Process
Section 1006.07(6), Florida Statutes, requires districts to conduct an annual self-
assessment of their school district’s safety and security program using the Office of
Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability’s (OPPAGA’s)
School Safety
and Security Best Practices
. The 2007-2008
School Safety and Security Best Practices
Self-Assessment Form is available in Microsoft Word format on the Department of
Education’s web site at:
http://www.fldoe.org/safeschools/safe_passage/safe_passage.asp
As required by Section 1006.07(6), Florida Statutes, based on the self-assessment
findings, the superintendent shall provide recommendations to the school board 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
DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability’s
School
Safety and Security Best Practices
Self-Assessment Report Submittal Process
May 20, 2008
Page Two
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, 2008
.
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, 2008.
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 file only), on a disk, to:
Julie Collins
Office of Safe Schools
Florida Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street, Room 544
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
The Self-Assessment Form provides a structure to assess the effectiveness of district-
level safety and security programs as well as 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. A copy of the Technical Assistance Paper may be found
online at:
http://www.fldoe.org/safeschools/safe_passage/safe_passage.asp
For any questions, please contact Julie Collins, School Emergency Management
Planning, Office of Safe Schools at Julie.Collins@fldoe.org or (850) 245-0676.
FH/jac
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