School Safety Program Receives 32,000 Tips During 2024-2025 School Year – NewtownPANow.com

Report on Pennsylvania’s Safe2Say Anonymous Reporting Program and Its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that the state’s Safe2Say anonymous reporting program received over 32,000 tips during the 2024-2025 school year. This program plays a critical role in promoting school safety and aligns closely with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Program Overview and Impact

The Safe2Say program, launched in 2019, enables students to anonymously report safety concerns via an app, text messages, or phone calls. Since inception, it has processed more than 185,000 tips, demonstrating its importance as a trusted resource for students.

1. Increase in Reporting: The 2024-2025 school year saw an increase in reports related to school threats and weapons, highlighting the program’s vital role in early intervention.
2. Common Issues Reported:
   • Bullying and cyberbullying
   • Suicide ideation
   • Drug distribution
   • Threats against schools and individuals
   • Weapons-related concerns

Operational Details and Training

The program operates 24/7 with a dedicated team of analysts who intake and process tips. Approximately 90% of tips come from students reporting situations at school or home.

• Training Initiatives: Over 520,000 students have been trained on the Safe2Say program during the current year through various training models designed for ease of implementation in schools.
• In-Person Training: There has been a rise in requests for in-person training sessions, which have improved the quality and actionability of tips by encouraging students who were previously reluctant to report concerns.

Tip Processing and Response

Upon receipt, tips are first verified by the relevant school district to confirm student enrollment and gather contact information. The intake team engages with anonymous tipsters to collect detailed information before forwarding tips to appropriate school or law enforcement agencies.

• Some tips are processed within seconds, while others require more time depending on the complexity of information.
• Early intervention facilitated by the program has led to prevention of potential violence, including recovery of weapons and responses to threats.

Challenges and Accountability

• False Tips: Although false tips constitute a small percentage, they consume valuable resources and are thoroughly investigated by local law enforcement or the Attorney General’s office.
• Misuse Consequences: Deliberate misuse of the system results in consequences for the tipsters, emphasizing the program’s commitment to maintaining integrity and trust.

Community and Parental Involvement

Senator Greg Rothman highlighted the program’s collaborative approach, emphasizing community responsibility in student safety. Attorney General Sunday stressed the importance of parental involvement, encouraging families to discuss the program with their children to bridge communication gaps.

Program Reach and Accessibility

• The Safe2Say program serves all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, encompassing public, private, and charter schools.
• Emergency response centers, such as the Bucks County 9-1-1 center, have direct access to the system, allowing for rapid response to critical tips.
• The program continues to operate year-round, with a noted decrease in volume during summer months but an increase in life safety-related tips requiring urgent attention.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • By addressing bullying, suicide ideation, and drug distribution, the program promotes mental health and well-being among students.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Safe learning environments fostered by the program contribute to inclusive and equitable quality education.
   • Training initiatives empower students with knowledge and tools to maintain school safety.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • The program enhances peaceful and inclusive societies by preventing violence and ensuring access to justice through anonymous reporting.
   • Collaboration between schools, law enforcement, and communities strengthens institutional trust and accountability.

Conclusion

The Safe2Say anonymous reporting program in Pennsylvania exemplifies a proactive approach to school safety that aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals. Through anonymous reporting, comprehensive training, community involvement, and rapid response mechanisms, the program contributes significantly to creating safer educational environments and promoting the well-being of students statewide.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article discusses mental health issues such as bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide ideation among students, which relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The Safe2Say program is implemented in schools to create a safer learning environment, which supports inclusive and equitable quality education.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • The program addresses school threats, weapons, and violence prevention, promoting peaceful and inclusive societies and access to justice.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment, and promote mental health and well-being.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Number of Tips Received
   • The article mentions over 32,000 tips received during the 2024-2025 school year and more than 185,000 since 2019, indicating the level of engagement and reporting on safety concerns.
2. Types of Reports
   • Indicators include the number of reports on bullying, cyberbullying, suicide ideation, drug distribution, threats against schools and individuals, and weapons.
3. Response and Intervention Outcomes
   • Measures such as the prevention of potential violence, recovery of weapons, and law enforcement interventions following tips indicate effectiveness.
4. Training Coverage
   • Number of students trained (over 520,000) on the Safe2Say program reflects awareness and capacity building.
5. False Tips and Misuse
   • Tracking the percentage of false or prank tips and subsequent consequences to maintain system integrity.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: newtownpanow.com