NASRO Introduces National Standards for SROs

NASRO Introduces National Standards for SROs

NASRO has created recommended national standards and best practices for school resource officer (SRO) programs

The executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) told the Federal Commission on School Safety that NASRO has created recommended national standards and best practices for school resource officer (SRO) programs. NASRO executive director Mo Canady said Commission members are the first to receive a copy of the document.

“As the world’s leader in school-based policing, NASRO has regularly spoken to the critical need for national standards for SRO programs,” said Canady during testimony at today’s Commission hearing. “We ask you, The Federal Commission on School Safety, to support these recommended standards.”

NASRO’s document covers four main areas:

  1. Administrative standards, including an outline of the definition and purpose of an SRO.
  2. The careful selection of law enforcement officers for SRO positions.
  3. Specialized SRO training, including adolescent mental health, threat assessment, and active shooter response.
  4. Interagency collaboration between school districts and law enforcement agencies.

Canady defined an SRO as “a sworn, certified law enforcement officer assigned to a community-based policing program and actively working in a collaborative effort with the school district.” He said that when communities do not adhere to that definition, “the SRO program’s effectiveness will, at best, be greatly hindered, and, at worst, be significantly detrimental to the school, the law enforcement agency, and the community.”

“I cannot emphasize enough,” said Canady, “how critical it is for officers to be carefully selected and specially trained to function in the school environment. This is always a factor in the success or failure of any SRO program.”

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Campus Security Today.

Featured

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now

  • Turning Surveillance Into Strategy: AI’s Role in Driving Proactive Security

    Video surveillance has long been part of the campus safety toolkit, indispensable for investigating security incidents after they occur and a valuable tool for proactive deterrent. Read Now

  • A.C. Camargo Cancer Center Enhances Security, Patient Care with Help from Advanced Video Surveillance

    A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, a leading oncology treatment center in São Paulo, Brazil recognized for its history of innovation, today announced that its partnership with Axis Communications has produced savings of more than $2 million over its first two years, all of which will be reinvested in patient care. A.C. Camargo has deployed more than 2,000 state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras throughout the Center’s corridors, complex care units, and parking lots, embracing a more holistic approach to security that emphasizes patient and employee safety along with improved quality of service. Read Now

  • 2025 Secure Campus Award Winners Announced

    Campus Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 Secure Campus Award winners. Twenty companies are being recognized this year for products that help keep education and business campuses safe. Read Now

Most   Popular