New California Law Makes Training Mandatory For All School Security Officers

New California Law Makes Training Mandatory For All School Security Officers

Starting in 2021, part-time employees will also be required to finish a course on student behavior, liability and more.

A new California law signed last week will require every school security officer employed by every public school and university to complete a training course, regardless of their status as a part-time or full-time guard. 

Under the previous law, only security professionals who worked more than 20 hours per week were required to finish the course, which covered liability, security awareness, conflict resolution and student behavior, among other topics. Part-time security staff members, which over 50 percent of California schools employed in 2018, were not included, according to The California Globe.

The law, introduced by state Sen. Tom Umberg, said he wanted to create a safer environment for students in the wake of growing concerns over school shooters and other forms of violence in schools. 

“Ultimately, the goal of SB 390 is to fully commit all school safety officers to student safety, by maximizing preparedness and knowledge essential to keeping children safe,” Umberg said in a statement. 

Security guards have previously been criticized for their responses to violent incidents, including a school resource officer who did not enter the school during a shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018. The officer now faces charges of child neglect and perjury for his inaction during a massacre that killed 17 people. 

“They need this training so our kids stop getting away with [violence] and we don’t have to be the ones to find out about everything the guards missed or let happen,” substitute teacher Janet Clemens told the Globe. “This can only be good.”

Districts will have over a year to adjust to the new requirements. The law will go into effect for all security employees in 2021. 

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • 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

  • 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