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Conference presentation

Act 55 Training

Act 55 of 2022 mandated school safety-related training for all Pennsylvania public school employees. Section 1310-B of the PA Public School Code requires that all school entities provide employees with two hours of mandatory training on any combination of one or more of the following topics, based on the needs of the school entity and aligned with training standards adopted by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's School Safety and Security Committee (PCCD SSSC):  

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  • Situational awareness. 

  • Trauma-informed approaches. 

  • Behavioral health awareness. 

  • Suicide and bullying awareness. 

  • Substance use awareness. 

 

 

In addition, school entities must provide employees with one hour of annual training that addresses emergency training drills (including fire, natural disaster, active shooter, hostage situation and bomb threat) AND identification or recognition of student behavior that may indicate a threat to the safety of the student, other students, school employees, other individuals, school facilities or the community. 

SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS

Situational awareness is an essential skill for all school employees to understand and practice. Course attendees should leave the course with an understanding of the following:

• Definition of situational awareness. • Importance of the recognition of things and persons that seem out of the ordinary.

• Importance of the assessment of a situation to determine appropriate response.

• Things to consider generally to determine an appropriate response to a given situation, including how to identify and implement action steps. • Description of how situational awareness may connect to a school entity’s emergency preparedness plan, incident command structure, and/or threat assessment process.

SUBSTANCE USE AWARENESS

Alcohol and other drug-related problems are serious health issues affecting almost every Pennsylvania community and family in some way, and the effect on adolescents can be particularly serious. All course attendees should leave this course with an understanding of the following: • Current substance use trends in Pennsylvania.

• Signs and symptoms of students under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

• Things to take into consideration when responding to a student dealing with substance use concerns. • Things to take into consideration when referring a student with substance use concerns.

• Brief overview/identification of student and caregiver rights related to substance use that may impact the employee.

TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES

At the most basic level, trauma-informed approaches are ways of supporting individuals that take into consideration specific needs they may have as a result of past or ongoing trauma. Course attendees should leave this course with an understanding of the following:

• Definition of trauma, types of trauma, and trauma-informed approaches (see Section 102 of the PA Public School Code).

• Signs and symptoms of youth and adults who have experienced or are currently experiencing trauma, potential negative health outcomes related to trauma, and protective factors and strategies to mitigate those impacts.

• Review of what it means generally to be trauma-informed in your communications and interactions with others and description or demonstration of trauma-informed educational practices.

• Impact of trauma and secondary or vicarious trauma on school employees and strategies that may help mitigate those impacts (e.g., self-care strategies).

• Things to consider when responding to a student or employee who appears to be experiencing signs and symptoms of trauma (e.g., concrete examples of language that may be useful when responding).

EMERGENCY TRAINING DRILLS

This Act 55 training requirement is in addition to other training or drilling required by law. Nothing in the standards precludes a school entity from offering this course on the same date as other scheduled drilling requirements and school entities may find it beneficial to conduct the course adjacent to school security drills

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AWARENESS

Behavioral and mental health awareness is an important issue for all school employees who may be the first line of intervention for their students. Course attendees should leave this course with an understanding of the following:

• Signs and symptoms of individuals displaying behavioral or mental health concerns.

• Things to consider when responding to a student or other individual who is displaying signs and symptoms of behavioral or mental health concerns (e.g., concrete examples of language that may be useful when responding).

• Strategies for self-care and improving one’s own mental health and overall well-being. • Brief overview/identification of laws regarding student and caregiver rights and how they may impact the employee. 

IDENTIFICATION OR RECOGNITION OF STUDENT BEHAVIOR

• Overview of the history and principles of behavioral threat assessment in school-based settings. • Definition of Threat

• How to identify/recognize observable behaviors that may indicate that a student poses a threat, such as:

1.  Physical violence 

2. Direct or indirect threats

3. Bullying 

4. Possession of weapons on school grounds or at school events.

5. Any statements or behaviors indicating suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

6. Any behaviors or communications that suggest the individual has engaged in research/planning related to carrying out a targeted attack; efforts to acquire means to engage in an attack; and/or end-of-life planning.

7.  Any act, gesture, or statement that would be interpreted by a reasonable person as threatening or intimidating.

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