How Safe Is My School?

Assessment Methodology

How Safe Is My School? uses a comprehensive, risk-based approach to evaluate your institution's security posture across nine critical domains: physical security, active shooter preparedness, remote learning security, cybersecurity, IoT & smart campus, data privacy, crisis communication, and compliance. The assessment methodology follows industry best practices and frameworks specifically tailored to educational environments.

Each domain contains weighted questions targeting key security controls and practices. Your responses are analyzed using algorithms that consider:

• Institution type (K-12 vs. higher education)
• Size and complexity (student population, campus layout)
• Geographic context (urban, suburban, rural)
• Historical risk factors (past incidents)
• Current security capabilities (budget, staffing)

Risk-Based Calculations

The tool implements a sophisticated risk calculation methodology that evaluates both likelihood and impact factors:

Risk Score = Likelihood × Impact

Likelihood factors include:

• Control implementation status
• Historical incident patterns
• Geography/location risk
• Campus layout vulnerability

Impact factors include:

• Institution size
• Population demographics
• Data sensitivity
• Recovery capabilities

Each security control is assigned a weighted value based on its relative importance to your specific educational context. For example, active shooter controls receive higher weighting in K-12 settings based on historical incident data, while cybersecurity controls receive increased weighting in higher education environments.

Recommendation Prioritization

Recommendations are prioritized using a multi-factor algorithm that considers:

• Risk Reduction Potential: How significantly the control reduces overall risk
• Implementation Cost: Budget required for implementation
• Implementation Complexity: Technical/organizational difficulty
• Resource Constraints: Alignment with stated budget/staffing limitations
• Regulatory Compliance Impact: Effect on meeting legal requirements

This approach ensures you receive recommendations that provide the greatest risk reduction with the most efficient use of available resources.

Industry Standards & Frameworks

The assessment is built on recognized security frameworks and standards tailored to educational environments:

Educational Sector Security Best Practices

Physical Security

Best practices include layered access control (from perimeter to critical areas), visitor management systems, emergency communication systems, surveillance coverage of key areas, and regular security assessments. CISA recommendations emphasize school hardening while maintaining a welcoming educational environment.

Active Shooter Preparedness

Comprehensive response planning, regular training for all stakeholders, threat assessment teams, clear communication protocols, and age-appropriate student training are essential. The "run, hide, fight" protocol remains the standard response methodology, supplemented by facility hardening and detection systems.

Remote Learning Security

Secure authentication methods, monitoring of access patterns, secure video conferencing, and training for students and parents on secure home setups are critical for protecting the virtual classroom environment.

Cybersecurity

Defense-in-depth strategies including network segmentation, endpoint protection, regular patching, security awareness training, and incident response planning. Educational environments require special attention to cloud security and access management due to diverse user populations and BYOD challenges.

IoT & Smart Campus

Smart campus technologies require device inventory management, network segregation, regular firmware updates, and pre-implementation security assessments to manage the expanded attack surface created by connected devices.

Data Privacy

Educational institutions manage highly sensitive student data requiring classification systems, strict access controls, encryption, vendor security assessments, and comprehensive data governance. Privacy-by-design principles should be embedded in all technology adoption processes.

Crisis Communication

Multi-channel communication strategies, pre-drafted response templates, backup communication systems, regular testing of alert systems, and trained spokespersons ensure effective information flow during emergencies.

Compliance

Educational institutions must navigate unique regulatory requirements including FERPA (student records privacy), COPPA (online protection for children under 13), state data privacy laws, and security breach notification requirements. Comprehensive compliance programs include policy development, training, documentation, and regular auditing.

Assessment Limitations

This tool provides a point-in-time assessment based on self-reported information. While comprehensive, it cannot replace a full professional security assessment. The tool should be used as part of a broader security program that includes detailed vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and ongoing security improvement efforts.

All assessment data remains in your browser - nothing is transmitted to our servers or stored externally.