With growing national concerns about school safety, a groundbreaking initiative at the University of Florida is helping state school officials enhance safety measures by leveraging data.
The UF Education Policy Research Center partnered with nonprofit Safe Schools for Alex to launch the School Safety Data Microcredential training program, marking a significant step forward in data-driven school safety practices.
A microcredential is a certification that recognizes the completion of a specific skill or competency, often through short, focused courses.
Key personnel from the Florida Department of Education's Office of Safe Schools and representatives from 18 different Florida school districts gathered in-person at UF last month before the start of the school year to participate in the continuing education opportunity. Since then, many others have registered for the online version of the training. The online microcredential is open to anyone wishing to participate.
Leadership and support personnel, including principals, school safety specialists, and behavioral resource teachers attended the inaugural session, with a team of UF faculty facilitating the training along with Max Schachter, founder and executive director of Safe Schools for Alex.
"My son, Alex, was murdered in the Parkland school shooting," Schachter candidly explained to the group. "After that happened, I made it my life's mission to do everything I can to prevent what happened in Parkland from ever happening in another community – not only in Florida but around the country."
