We want you to feel that your child is safe and supported every day at school.
If you have a concern about your child's safety in school, raise it to your child's teacher and principal. If you feel your child is being bullied—or bullying—make sure to also get the name of the school's Respect for All (RFA) representative. The RFA liaison can make sure the situation is investigated and you are kept informed.
Both the school's principals and RFA Liaison can be found when you pull up your school's information using the Find A School Tool:
Programs
We have many programs designed to ensure that children and staff are safe:
- Security in Schools – provided by School Safety Agents, members of the New York Police Department
- Scanners that help keep weapons out of schools
- Truancy programs and lateness policies that help to keep kids in school
- Gang prevention and intervention
- Digital
Citizenship Responsibilities - to address cyberbullying and safety
issues resulting from online content.
- Respect for all (bullying prevention)
For more information on how schools plan to maintain a safe school, read the Parent Guide to School Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Scanning in Schools
Scanning is implemented in New York City public schools on the following bases:
- on a full time basis whenever the school is being used; or
- on a part time basis during randomly assigned days of the week during school hours.
In addition, schools are randomly selected for scanning throughout the year or scanning may occur at a particular school when there is reason to believe that there is a threat to the safety of the school community.
Read the full Scanning in DOE Schools policy.
Find out more