317-232-2222
dhsschoolsafety@dhs.in.gov
About the School Safety Specialist Academy
The Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy (ISSSA) provides ongoing, certified training and information on national and state best practices, high-quality resources for school safety, security, intervention/prevention, and emergency preparedness planning. School safety specialists are trained to lead the development and implementation of school safety practices to ensure safe educational environments are provided for all students in Indiana.
Role of a School Safety Specialist
Every school corporation and charter school must have at least one individual who is not a school resource officer (as described in Indiana Code 20-26-18.2-2) to serve as a school safety specialist. After a school safety specialist has completed Basic Training and becomes certified, the specialist has the following duties according to Indiana Code 10-21-1-9:
- Serve on the county school safety commission (exception: charter school school safety specialists)
- Participate each year in ongoing school safety training
- Develop, implement and improve school safety plans for each school building in a school corporation or charter school
- Coordinate school safety plans of each school building
- Act as a resource for school corporation or charter school safe school committees and other individuals in the schools on issues related to school discipline, safety and security
- Serve as a liaison regarding school safety matters with the Secured School Safety Board, IDHS, Department of Education, Criminal Justice Institute and other state agencies
Upcoming Trainings
Note: Not all events on the IDHS calendar are organized, hosted or sponsored by IDHS or other state agencies. Some events are included for informational purposes as events that the public or first responders may find beneficial.
Training and Resources
Basic Training
The Basic Training Academy is for incoming School Safety Specialists. Completion of the academy is required for certification. The academy consists of two days of in-person training and an 8-hour online prerequisite course in ACADIS. The in-person traning will take place in Indianapolis, and the online prerequisite course requires an account in ACADIS with a valid PSID number.
Registration information will appear on the Education and Training page.
Advanced Training
Since its inception in 1999, the program has provided training to more than 3,500 School Safety Specialists across Indiana, building a statewide network of professionals dedicated to safe and supportive learning environments.
To maintain certification as a School Safety Specialist, each specialist must attend a minimum of 10 hours of training annually. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the loss of certification. School corporations may designate more than one certified School Safety Specialist, and many choose to assign a specialist to each building to strengthen local safety leadership.
For additional training opportunities, or if you would like to host a training, visit the Education and Training page.
Resources
- Active shooter response resources - Indiana State Police
- Commission on Seclusion and Restraint in Schools
- Human trafficking
- Indiana School Resource Officer Association
- SchoolSafety.gov
- School counseling, guidance, psychology, social work and foster youth
- School health and nursing
- State attendance officer
