What is Ready, Set, Safe!?
Ready, Set, Safe! is a nonprofit established to help ensure kids are safe everywhere they learn and play.
Dayna and Eric Quanbeck established the organization after their first-grade son Alex died when a large gate fell on him at recess. This manual gate was poorly designed and maintained, resulting in the 400 pound structure crashing down. Alex is not the only child who has been killed by a gate at school, and gates are not the only potentially unsafe structure.
A key component of our efforts is to advocate for comprehensive, regular school safety assessments, which could be the difference between well and poorly maintained facilities and environments that contribute to students’ well-being.
Why comprehensive school safety assessments?
School safety is often top of mind for parents, particularly violence prevention. Often, we assume school facilities and infrastructure are routinely reviewed and are safe, but that is not always the case. These elements, along with others like traffic flow, recreational areas, and student well-being, should all be part of how a school evaluates its safety.
Isn’t there a law?
There is no comprehensive school safety assessment law or regulation at the federal level and those at the state level, when there are any, vary in scope.
Do not assume your school is completing regular, comprehensive safety assessments, whether your children are attending public, private, charter, independent or parochial schools.
What is the point in asking these questions?
Our goal is to learn about the school’s documented, recurring, comprehensive process for assessing safety, tracking findings, assigning responsibility, and verifying that needed improvements are completed.
What types of concerns should I have?
When assessments are not comprehensive, they focus on one area and as a result may miss the areas "inbetween." For instance:
Playground assessments omit security
Security assessments omit playgrounds and facilities
Facilities assessments can miss both security and the detailed/analytical look required of playgrounds.
As a result, school assessors note that commonly under-evaluated areas include:
The bleachers, fences, and other items built or installed in response to specific concerns. This is particularly relevant if upgrades are done to older or pre-existing infrastructure;
Gates infrastructure, including fail-stops to prevent pieces falling or not stopping automatically; and
Playground equipment.
This sample facility check-list helps provide context for what a school safety assessment may entail.
What can I do?
Take action by asking questions of the school leadership. This email template can help you get started, or if you are more comfortable asking in person or at a school meeting, this script provides some helpful talking points.
We also have additional frequently asked questions and a question guide for assessors that school leaders can use.
Now what?
Let us know how your school leaders respond, what information they can provide, and any additional questions you or they may have. Email us at info@readysetsafe.org.
