Frequently Asked Questions

A threat is a concerning communication or behavior that suggests a person may intend to harm someone else, or themselves. The threat may be spoken, written, or gestured. It may be observed by or communicated directly to the target of the threat, or it may be observed by or communicated to a third party. The target of the threat does not need to be aware of the threat existing in any fashion, whether orally, visually, in writing, or electronically.

Threat assessment is mandated in all public K-12 schools and institutions of higher education in Virginia. Threat assessment in Virginia is a fact-based process relying primarily on an appraisal of behaviors to identify potentially dangerous or violent situations, and to address them in a professional and timely manner. Virginia law requires school divisions to establish threat assessment teams, accompanying policy, and reporting protocols using the DCJS or a compatible model as a ‘best practice’ for school violence prevention.

The threat assessment process is not designed to be adversarial or punitive, but to be a fair, objective, reasonable and timely approach to prevent violence or harm to self or others, where possible. A critical aspect of this process involves school community members reporting any potential threats in a timely and accurate manner.  It is important to remember that the role of the threat assessment team is protective and preventative. The team’s goal is to maintain the health, safety, and well-being of all persons involved, while also connecting the subject(s) of concern with appropriate intervention.

Teams must include individuals with expertise in counseling, instruction, school

administration, and law enforcement.

It is recommended that members of the threat assessment team (core and backup members) complete Basic School Threat Assessment Training through DCJS or the equivalent. Team members should complete refresher training at least every three years and continuing education in threat assessment related topics through DCJS or their professional disciplines as resources allow. It is also suggested that the team regularly complete practice scenarios in order to have a unified understanding of how the team will work together in completing threat assessment. Training is provided on the application of these strategies through a series of threat assessment trainings across the Commonwealth. DCJS training curriculum includes two main sections:  Training materials designed for use during courses; and  Resource materials, reference guides, and further reading.

When a potential threat comes to the threat assessment team, it is their job to determine not only whether a threat has been made or communicated, but also if a person poses a danger to self or others and is potentially on a pathway to violence. A threat may involve threatening statements to others or behaviors that are threatening, aberrant, or concerning. The team then implements a strategy to continue to assess, monitor, and manage the case

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (or FERPA) should not be an impediment to an effective threat assessment, nor to case management. FERPA protects student’s educational records only, rather than observations and direct communications. School administrators, teachers and other staff may share information including educational records with other school officials that have a need to know the information; this includes the members of the threat assessment team. Where safety concerns exist, schools can share information with others outside the school that can help address safety concerns, such as parents, law enforcement officials, and mental health professionals, that can help address the safety concerns. Additional information regarding FERPA can be found on the US Department of Education website. In addition, DCJS has an Information Sharing Guide available to help threat assessment teams better understand information sharing in the K-12 public school setting.

View the full list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment  and Management here.