Policies that ensure that only school staff, students, family members and other authorized visitors enter the grounds, and the school building can help prevent unauthorized persons from accessing areas where students and staff are located. Outside doors or gates should be kept locked or continuously staffed. School visitor policies should be well-defined, communicated across the school community (including to parents and school visitors), and enforced. Clear language and disability accessible signage designating these policies and the use of identification badges help support the implementation of effective visitor policies. All of these strategies can be implemented while also creating a school environment that is welcoming for parents and families. When implementing outdoor and entry safety practices, schools have a responsibility not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or other protected classes when implementing school safety measures and policies.
We also provide other specific practice profiles for:
For more implementation considerations see Implementing Physical Safety Measures Effectively.
