School Preparedness and Emergency Planning

Commissioner Cerf's Memo:
The Sandy Hook Tragedy
Office of School Preparedness & Emergency Planning Training & Service Request Form
(PDF | Microsoft Word)
To request any trainings or services please complete a Training and Service Request form and submit it to the School Security Unit via fax or e-mail. All requests will be reviewed and approved based upon priority and staffing availability.
Hot Topics
  • NewA Hurricane on Sesame Street
    A hurricane hits Sesame Street. Watch as Sesame Street Gets Through a Storm by working together to rebuild their community.

    View the entire Hurricane Tool Kit from Sesame Street which includes resources and lesson plans at: http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/hurricane.

  • NewFirst Observer: School Bus Driver Training
    This FREE online training for school bus drivers focuses on situations specific to them. The training includes recommendations and guidance on morning checks and equipment inspection. Raises awareness for drivers to observe, assess and report suspicious activity at scheduled stops and evasive protective actions to employ.
  • NewEmergency Management Institute: Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools course
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering this FREE four day course in Emmitsburg, MD for local teams made up of school administrators, local first responders, and planning team members.Review the course announcement for additional information and the application process.
  • NewU.S. Department of Education's REMS Technical Assistance Center Presents Large Events Emergency Management at Schools online course
    The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Healthy Students (OSHS) Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center is pleased to announce that the course, Large Events Emergency Management at Schools, has been added to the online School Emergency Management Course Series, a tool being offered to provide emergency management training for schools. The courses cover the four phases of emergency management along with developing a school emergency management plan, preventing and mitigating school emergencies, and other planning and preparedness topics. In addition to defining and describing the four phases of emergency management, the courses provide guidelines, checklists, and specific action items for school officials to consider. The courses also include case study scenarios on emergency incidents at schools, giving learners an opportunity to practice their emergency management decision-making skills.
  • Making Our Schools Safe (M.O.S.S.) Districts Announced
    As part of the Safer School for a Better Tomorrow Initiative that was announced on April 20th, the NJ Department of Education is concertedly working with districts on emergency preparedness and identifying needs and areas of improvement, as well as learning from schools and districts what works.  On May 7th the department announced approximately 160 school districts that have been designated as Making Our Schools Safe (M.O.S.S.) Districts. These districts collectively will comprise a cadre of schools that will inform the state of school preparedness in New Jersey. The M.O.S.S. Districts will be divided into three tiers and will receive direct TA over the next two years.

    Please contact the Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning with any questions at ssbt@doe.state.nj.us.
  • Comfort in the Classroom: Taking Resilience to School©
    Comfort In The Classroom: Taking Resilience To School© is a hands on, active learning design that offers school friendly strategies, action resources, and understanding that is trauma and resilience savvy to build capacity in the four key areas of safety and emergency planning and to promote self-mastery and cultures of resilience in classroom communities. Resources are whole person focused, resilience based, and informed by themes of trauma and its biology and impacts. Attention was focused to support well being and learning needs for students, staff and educators. Materials from these workshops are accessible on our website to turn key in your school communities. Resources include action sheets and tools for classroom options to promote comfort, build community, practice skills and promote well being in emergency and in daily school life.
  • IS-100.SC Introduction to the Incident Command System, I-100, for Schools
    The Emergency Management Institute developed the Introduction to ICS for Schools (IS-100.SC for Schools) course in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education. The course is designed primarily for kindergarten through high school personnel.
  • Keeping Our Kids Safe Provides additional policies, guidelines, and resources for districts that are supported by the department's Safe and Drug Free Schools Unit.

  • Governor's Strategy for Safe Streets and Neighborhoods
    The goal of this plan is to reduce violent crime and recidivism in New Jersey.

    The Cyber Tip Hotline
    Contact if you have information to help in the fight against child sexual exploitation.

    Don't abandon your baby. There's a safe haven for unwanted infants..
    Our Most Effective Weapon Against Terrorism is You FERPA Guidance for Emergencies
    This provides updated guidelines relating to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the disclosure of student information related to emergencies and disasters.
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