Scaling School Safety: An Implementation Study of a Statewide Behavioral Threat Assessment Model in Texas

• In Event: Assessing Threats to Prevent Violence at K-12 Schools

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a NIJ-funded implementation study focused on efforts to scale behavioral threat assessment (BTA) in Texas through a statewide training model. Situated within a larger impact study, the current paper presents findings on how school campuses experience the training model and the process for adapting the training model to local contexts. The findings - based on surveys, interviews, and focus groups with BTA team members in schools across Texas - include variations in quality of implementation, challenges to developing and implementing a behavioral threat assessment team within a school campus, and considerations for state and local education agencies considering the BTA model.

Author

• Trevor Fronius, WestEd