North Carolina to Partner with Sandy Hook Promise for Anonymous Reporting System
North Carolina will partner with Sandy Hook Promise to implement a statewide Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. The system will teach students, educators, administrators and law enforcement agencies how to recognize warning signs and anonymously report them.
- By Kaitlyn DeHaven
- July 15, 2019
North Carolina will be the second state to create a statewide partnership with Sandy Hook Promise, as NC State Superintendent Mark Johnson recently announced. In the 2019-20 school year, the North Carolina state education agency will provide a statewide Say Something Anonymous Reporting System.
This system is designed to teach students, educators, administrators, and law enforcement agencies how to recognize the signs and signals of those who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others and to anonymously report this information through the mobile tip app, the website, or the telephone crisis hotline.
Two Sandy Hook Promise initiatives with heavy emphasis on teaching students how to identify potential red flags are already in place at some Cabarrus County schools. Start With Hello week is held at Winkler Middle School and teaches students how to reach out to their peers that may be struggling. Say Something Week was held by Hickory Ridge High School this year. This program teaches students how to look for warning signs, signals, and threats, especially on social media, from a peer who might be planning to hurt themselves or someone else to say something to a trusted adult.
“Students play a critical role in helping to keep schools safe,” Johnson said. “They may see and hear concerns that adults need to know about but may be reluctant to report it. With the Say Something program, middle and high school students will better understand what warning signs to look for and when and how to report important tips through and app. Making this app available will be an important part of our efforts to make schools safer.”
According to the Independent Tribune, more than 5,100 schools nationwide are currently using Sandy Hook Promise’s anonymous reporting system. Tips can be sent in a variety of ways – via web, a phone hotline, or through the app – including photos and videos. After they’re reported, they will be categorized as either “life safety” or “non-life safety” based on the information given. If the tip is categorized as “life safety” the Crisis Center will notify school-based representatives after hours, and if the threat is imminent, they will contact local 911 dispatch.
About the Author
Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.