ASIS International introduces new ANSI-approved school security standard

ALEXANDRIA, VA — ASIS International has announced the release of its American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved standard designed to provide a framework for developing, implementing, maintaining, and improving school security.

ASIS said that the standard provides a critical benchmark for assessing and improving a school’s security posture regardless of size and funding.

"This standard represents thousands of hours of dedicated volunteer work by a passionate cross-disciplinary team of professionals united in their commitment to improving school security. While there are no simple solutions for creating completely secure educational environments, this standard was specifically designed to help schools systematically assess and address their unique risks," says Jeffrey Slotnick, CPP, PSP, Co-Chair, ASIS School Security Standard Technical Committee. "This is a proactive tool to serve schools across the globe by providing practical, actionable guidance for those on how to secure learning environments while maintaining focus on their primary mission of education.”

The company notes that while numerous tools and resources exist for school security, there has never been a voluntary standard to guide K-12 schools in creating more secure learning environments. The framework was designed through a multi-disciplinary collaboration, bringing together the collective expertise numerous professionals resulting in an evidence-based approach that empowers schools to conduct thorough assessments of their current security posture while identifying strategic opportunities to further mitigate risks. 

"For the first time, schools across North America and around the world have access to a nationally recognized, ANSI-approved standard to provide a clear path for implementing a comprehensive school security program," stated Drew Neckar, CPP, Co-Chair, ASIS School Security Standard Technical Committee. "This groundbreaking ANSI/ASIS School Security Standard transforms the security landscape for K-12 environments by providing those accountable for security measures a scalable roadmap that when implemented, doesn't just meet security objectives, it creates a framework for continuous improvement based on industry benchmarks and empowers stakeholders involved in school security to build stronger, more resilient educational environments.”

The newly released standard can be found as an eBook or in print.