School Safety Assessment FAQ

Every child should be safe at school—but how schools assess and manage safety isn’t always clear or consistent. This FAQ explains what comprehensive safety assessments are, why they matter, and what gaps exist today.

What is a comprehensive, integrated school safety assessment?

A school safety assessment is a review conducted by a qualified third-party or outside expert to evaluate how well a school protects students and staff. When it is comprehensive, it typically includes:

• Security, emergency preparedness, and response

• Condition and maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment

• Traffic flow (drop-off, pick-up, walking routes)

• Playgrounds and recreational areas

• Building systems (such as gates, bleachers, doors, and HVAC)

• Aspects of student well-being

Assessors meet with school leadership, facilities staff, faculty, parents, students, and board members to understand both policies and day-to-day conditions.

Why comprehensive and integrated?

No single checklist can identify every risk. Hazards often span systems, conditions, or areas of responsibility. Integrated assessments provide a more complete picture and help reduce gaps. They are most effective when they are regular, comprehensive, and action-oriented.

Ready, Set, Safe! recommends that these assessments:

• Cover all major safety areas

• Take place every 3-5 years or after a significant change or incident 

• Include regular checks in between

Don’t school safety assessments already happen?

While children are required to attend school, there is no uniform system ensuring that facilities are regularly and comprehensively evaluated for safety. School safety assessments vary in consistency and what they include. 

There is no national requirement for school safety assessments, state and local requirements vary widely, and there is no central system tracking injuries and fatalities at schools, like OSHA does for workplaces.

Is this really something I need to worry about?

Most schools are safe. This is not about assuming otherwise—it is about making safety practices consistent and proactive. But incidents happen at every type of school, every grade, and across communities.

Ready, Set, Safe! was founded after the death of first-grade student Alex Quanbeck, who was killed when a large gate fell on him at school due to a failed safety mechanism. His death underscores how critical consistent, thorough safety practices can be.

Because there is no central reporting system, it is difficult to measure the full scope. However:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that 10%–25% of childhood injuries occur at school.

• Investigations and news reports continue to document incidents involving equipment failures

• Experts consistently point to maintenance gaps and inconsistent inspections as preventable causes

• The average age of main instructional buildings in America’s public school system is 49 years old. Fifty years is considered their design life, at which point essential facility systems need comprehensive upgrades or replacements.

The lack of complete data does not mean the problem is rare—it means it is harder to track.

What are the areas that assessments may miss?

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. 

What are the most common hazards assessors identify?

The most commonly under-evaluated areas include:

• The gap between campus as imagined versus as lived. For instance, people do use the doors that perhaps they shouldn’t or prop doors open that should be closed. : 

• 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. 

• Playground equipment. 

What is Ready, Set, Safe! asking schools to do?

We are advocating for schools to:

• Conduct regular, comprehensive safety assessments

• Take an integrated (not siloed) approach

• Clearly track and address identified risks

What is Ready, Set, Safe!?

Ready, Set, Safe! is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing injuries from facility-related hazards where children learn and play. We work to raise awareness, improve standards, and advocate for consistent, comprehensive safety practices.

The organization was founded after the death of first-grade student Alex Quanbeck, whose life was lost due to a preventable gate failure at school.

Share your experience or learn more by emailing info@readysetsafe.org.