What are the Steps in a School Threat Assessment

Why Steps Matter

A school threat assessment is only as effective as the process behind it. Without a clear, step-by-step structure, schools risk overlooking warning signs or responding inconsistently. To protect students and staff, the assessment process must be both systematic and evidence-based.

Step 1: Identification

The process begins when a potential threat is observed or reported. This could be a concerning comment, a troubling social media post, or suspicious behavior. Anyone in the school community—students, staff, or parents—should have a clear pathway to report concerns.

Related reading: What is a Threat Assessment at School

Step 2: Initial Evaluation

The threat assessment team (TAT) must quickly decide whether the threat is transient (a joke, anger in the moment, no real intent) or substantive (serious and potentially dangerous). This distinction prevents overreaction while ensuring credible threats get urgent attention.

Step 3: Investigation

The team gathers information:

• Interviews with the student, peers, and teachers.

• Review of disciplinary records and digital activity.

• Family or law enforcement input if needed.

This step focuses on context—why was the threat made, and does the student have means to carry it out

Step 4: Intervention Planning

Based on findings, the team creates a tailored plan, which may include:

• Counseling or mental health referrals.

• Increased supervision and monitoring.

• Engaging parents to limit access to weapons.

• Disciplinary measures if appropriate.

Step 5: Follow-Up and Monitoring

Threat assessments do not end with the initial decision. Schools must track progress, monitor behavior, and adjust the intervention plan. Long-term support is often the key to preventing escalation.

What are the Steps in a School Threat Assessment

Government Resources for Schools

For schools seeking official guidance, these U.S. government resources outline threat assessment models:

• U.S. Secret Service – Protecting America’s Schools Guide Download PDF

• U.S. Department of Education – Early Warning, Timely Response View Guide

• National Center for School Safety – School Threat Assessment Toolkit Access Toolkit

These align closely with the steps described above.

Related Reading from the Book Series

These titles expand on each stage of the process, from policy to practice:

• The Threat Assessment Handbook: Emergency Preparedness for Business, Institutions, and Government

• The Prepared Leader: Threat Assessment, Emergency Preparedness, and Safety for Colleges, Institutions, and Businesses

• Campus Under Siege: Why Universities Are Soft Targets — And How to Fix Them

• Locked Down: The Access Control Blueprint for Safer Schools, Colleges, and Corporate America

For insight into frontline experience, see Uniformed Silence: What They Never Told You About Surviving LAPD. To understand broader defense principles, see Unmatched Arsenal: The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Military Power.

CrisisWire Integration

At CrisisWire Threat Management Solutions, we guide schools through building and executing these exact steps:

• Training threat assessment teams in CSTAG and Secret Service models.

• Designing reporting and documentation systems.

• Aligning with FEMA and DHS emergency preparedness standards.

• Conducting after-action reviews to improve safety protocols.

Learn more at CrisisWire Threat Management Solutions.

Conclusion

The steps of a school threat assessment—identification, evaluation, investigation, intervention, and monitoring—form a proven model for preventing violence. When schools follow this structured process, they move from reactive discipline to proactive safety.