Proposed Bill Would Create Threat Assessment Teams at Rhode Island Schools

Proposed Bill Would Create Threat Assessment Teams at Rhode Island Schools

A newly proposed school safety bill would require Rhode Island schools to form “threat assessment teams” to discuss students who display concerning behavior.

A newly proposed school safety bill would require Rhode Island schools to form “threat assessment teams.” The bill is sponsored by Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.

Rhode Island State Police Captain Derek Borek, who spoke at the State House on Wednesday on behalf of the bill, said the bill is about being proactive about student safety.

"We want to make sure that everyone across the board in the state of Rhode Island has this,” Borek said. “Because quite frankly I get calls quite often people ask me what do we do about this problem child? So I want to show that everyone in the state of Rhode Island has the same protocols and ways they would go about handling that individual.”

The threat assessment teams would include a school psychologist, a social worker, principal and other school officials. The team would meet regularly to discuss students who display concerning behavior.

Students and school staff would be encouraged to report concerning or threatening behavior to the committee as a method of preventing potential violence.

The State Police would provide free training and informational booklets.

Wednesday’s hearing about the bill also included testimony from the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, which raised some concerns about the bill’s effects on student rights.

"Our concern is really that without more specific statutory guidance, the policies adopted in the proceedings of a threat assessment may adversely affect rights of the assessed student," said Hannah Stern, ACLU of Rhode Island Representative.

The ACLU suggested adding language to the bill that would more specifically protect student rights, such as immediately notifying parents if a threat assessment is going to be performed on their child and requiring all assessment information to eventually be destroyed.

The entire bill can be read here.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Enhancing K-12 Campus Safety with Smart Sensors

    In today’s educational environment, school safety is a top priority—not just for administrators, but for parents, students, and entire communities. Gone are the days when locking doors and hiring a school resource officer were sufficient deterrents to threats. Read Now

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now