School Safety and Crisis Resources

Office of School Safety

The Office of School Safety, located within the Department of Public Safety, serves as the primary agency for supporting Colorado schools and communities in their safety efforts by providing the tools and resources to create safe and positive school environments for all Colorado students, pre-kindergarten through higher education. The Office of School Safety consists of the following units:

The School Safety Resource Center provides free consultation, resources, training, and technical assistance to foster safe and secure learning environments, positive school climates, and early intervention to prevent crisis situations

The Crisis Response Unit provides crisis response training to school personnel and makes available mental health professionals on a limited basis to assist in the aftermath of a critical incident, when requested.

The Grants Unit manages available school safety grant funding from state and federal authorities and provides grant training and consultation to schools across Colorado.

Visit the Office of School Safety to learn more.

Office of School Safety

School Safety at CDE

The Colorado Department of Education supports school safety through prevention and promotion efforts that prioritize school climate improvement strategies, including bullying and violence prevention, mental health promotion, student engagement and dropout prevention efforts, and student and staff skill-building through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports. CDE provides guidance, funding, data, and professional development opportunities in these areas. Multiple offices within CDE address school safety. Please see the list below for more information about the various safety efforts supported in each office.

For questions about school safety efforts at CDE, please contact Andrea Pulskamp at pulskamp_a@cde.state.co.us. 

Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement

The Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement office is focused on preventative and responsive efforts to improve student engagement, which can help prevent school safety challenges or events.  The office manages competitive grants, professional learning opportunities, data tools, and other guidance on attendance, behavior, discipline, dropout prevention, and expulsion.  In addition, the office leads alignment and coordination efforts internally and externally on school safety and support for justice-engaged youth

Office of Learning Supports/Preventing School Violence

The mission of the Office of Learning Supports is to support school and district systems development for the effective implementation of multi-tiered frameworks to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for all. In addition, the office provides direct guidance on bullying prevention and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Through the Preventing School Violence grants, the office also focuses on safety promotion and creating safe school environments that are supportive, positive, and connected.

Division of Capital Construction

A branch of CDE, the Division of Capital Construction has developed a series of programs and resources for capital construction funding as well as technical assistance for school districts, traditional public schools, charter schools, BOCES, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind to make school building improvements that create safe and healthy schools.

Exceptional Student Services Unit (ESSU)

The Exceptional Student Services Unit (ESSU) includes the Office of Special Education, the Office of Gifted Education, and the Office of Facility Schools. This unit provides resources and guidance for educators, administrators, and families supporting students with disabilities, advanced learning needs, and those served in facility school settings. ESSU supports school safety by ensuring students with exceptional needs receive appropriate services and protections under state and federal law. This includes guidance on discipline procedures, mental health and behavioral supports, and the implementation of inclusive practices, such as MTSS and PBIS, that promote safe and supportive learning environments.

Federal Programs and Supports Unit

The Federal Programs & Supports Unit administers programs and distributes funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), most recently reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The FPSU oversees Title I School Improvement through Empowering Action for School Improvement (EASI) grants, as well as other Federal formula and competitive grants and awards.

Health Education Services Office

The Health Education Services Office (HES) supports districts, BOCES, and schools in their efforts to develop and sustain practices that equitably support the whole child and builds a culture of health and wellness for all students, families, and staff in Colorado PK-12 schools. This office focuses on support related to health education, school health-related services, and grants.

The Office of Student Support

The Office of Student Support (OSS) increases access and opportunity for students and their families, so they are healthy, safe, supported, and engaged in thriving schools and communities. OSS works with schools and community partners to make learning accessible and responsive for students and families during school and out-of-school time. The Office runs programs that provide students who encounter multiple vulnerabilities with additional whole-child supports and resources to increase educational access, stability, success and growth.

School Health Services Office

The School Health Services (SHS) Office supports Colorado districts, BOCES, schools, and school community members in developing and sustaining practices that support the whole child and establish a culture of health and wellness for all students, families, and staff. This office provides school health-related guidance, technical assistance, and professional development related to chronic disease prevention and management, and school health infrastructure.