School Safety and Security Training for School
Employees
Act 55 of 2022 amended Section 1310-B of the PA Public School Code of 1949 to establish new requirements for school safety and security training for all school employees. Prior to the passage of Act 55, school safety and security training for school employees was limited to three hours of instruction every five years. Act 55 amended this requirement to three hours of instruction annually and requires that the training provided meet certain standards as adopted by the School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC).
On September 28, 2022, the SSSC adopted these *NEW* School Safety and Security Training Standards for all school employees. Click on the link below to access the approved Standards:
**School Safety and Security Training Standards for School Employees**
Please note that these standards are NOT trainings. PCCD and the SSSC have the additional responsibility of providing training that meets these standards in a geographically disbursed manner and free of charge to school entities. On March 29, 2023, the SSSC approved a new School Safety and Security Training Program vendor to design and launch training programs aligned with these adopted standards for school employees and School Safety and Security Coordinators.
NOTE: No trainings have been developed by PCCD to date. Until trainings are developed, the standards may be used in the interim as guidance to assist school entities in fulfilling the school employee training requirements required by Section 1310-B. PCCD and the SSSC intend to develop these trainings in the near future and will provide additional information as it becomes available.
- (NEW!) PCCD issued an update to the field in June 2023 providing an update on Act 55 training on school safety topics for school employees and School Safety and Security Coordinators. You can view that communication here.
In addition, PCCD, in collaboration with the PA Department of Education (PDE), has developed guidance addressing frequently asked questions (FAQs) for School Safety and Security Training for school employees:
If you have any questions, please email RA-CD-SSSC@pa.gov.
Act 55 School Safety & Security Training Updates
- (CLOSED) Act 55 Training Needs Assessment Survey: PCCD is currently working to develop and deliver training that aligns with the Act 55 standards. To that end, PCCD's Act 55 Training Needs Assessment SurveyOpens In A New Window was recently shared with chief school administrators and School Safety and Security Coordinators to further share with their networks of school employees who may be taking school safety and security training as required by Act 55. The survey closed on May 11, 2023.
- (OPEN) Training Provider Engagement Survey: PCCD is seeking the contact information of vendors or providers who are currently providing trainings that cover one or more of the subject areas required by Act 55 of 2022 and may be interested in becoming an approved Act 55 training provider. Please note: The application process to become an approved provider is under development and is not yet live. This survey is designed to gauge interest from qualified providers. Click hereOpens In A New Window to take the survey.