Incident/Threat Assessment Process

When a threat is made, whether by a student, staff member, parent/guardian, or community member, the process starts with notifying a member of the school's threat assessment team, school administrators, or law enforcement about the concern. The threat assessment team then begins a fact-finding process that includes gathering details of the threatening behavior, identifying witnesses, and collecting background information on the individual involved.

If there is an active/imminent situation, then the building administrator will immediately call 911 or appropriate first responders and follow the RCPS Crisis Plan and RCPS Crisis Communications Plan, which could include the activation of emergency protocols. If the situation is not active or imminent, then the building administrator will notify RCPS administration and gather appropriate members of the threat assessment team. (This is Phase 1 of the Incident/Threat Communication Guidelines.)

The threat assessment team, in partnership with law enforcement, will then work to determine whether the threat is credible. If the threat is deemed credible and urgent/imminent, then law enforcement will investigate, and appropriate legal and/or disciplinary actions will be taken. (This is Phase 2 of the Incident/Threat Communication Guidelines.)

If the team believes that the person poses a threat, the team will then develop and implement a plan to respond to the threat.

The Threat Assessment Team operates in a highly confidential manner, based on Code of Virginia § 22.1-79.4, subsection F. During the threat assessment process, RCPS will communicate with families in accordance with its Incident/Threat Communication Guidelines that are in line with the Code of Virginia. (Phases 2A, 2B, and 3 of the Incident/Threat Communication Guidelines.)

To determine if a threat is credible, the Threat Assessment Team evaluates several factors, including whether the individual has shown an inappropriate interest in violence, acquired or has access to weapons, or expressed an idea to harm themselves or others.

The team also considers the individual’s behavior, such as showing signs of desperation or fascination with violence, and gathers information from various sources, including teachers, peers, and family members.

The team assesses whether the individual poses a threat of targeted violence and whether their situation inclines them toward or away from such behavior​.

The Threat Assessment Team is a group of trained individuals responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing potential threats in the school. Code of Virginia § 22.1-79.4, subsection C establishes school threat assessment teams, which requires members to have expertise in:

• counseling,
• instruction,
• school administration,
• and law enforcement;
• and in the case of any school in which a school resource officer is employed, at least one such school resource officer

RCPS’ teams typically include school administrators, mental health professionals, teachers/staff, and law enforcement, including each school’s School Resource Officer. The team's primary goal is to ensure the safety of the school community by preventing violence through early identification and intervention​.

Each school has its own Threat Assessment Team, and teams work in partnership with RCPS leaders.

A threat may be deemed credible if the individual shows behaviors indicating a serious intention to harm, such as:

• acquiring or having access to weapons
• making detailed plans for violence
• or expressing a strong desire to carry out the threat.

In contrast, a threat may be deemed not credible if it is determined to be:

• a joke
• made out of frustration without any real intent to harm
• or if the individual lacks the means to carry out the threat​.

RCPS will always notify families in accordance with Code of Virginia § 22.1-279.3:1, which requires the parents/guardians of any student who is involved with and/or a specific target of an incident or threat to be contacted.

RCPS will also notify a school community or the division during an active crisis or if a threat is imminent, credible, and/or urgent.

It is also important that students, families, and staff are not unnecessarily alarmed. RCPS is more discerning if a threat is clearly not credible, or if the threat is not urgent and/or imminent, and it is determined to not be credible.

Because our first priority is to ensure the safety of students and staff, it may take some time to gather and verify information for accuracy before it can be shared. For this reason, you may hear about an incident before official communication is released.

Methods of communication may include:

• Division Website
• Voice, Text & Email Messages
• Social Media, including Facebook & Twitter
• Local News Media

The Code of Virginia, RCPS School Board Policies, RCPS Crisis Communications Plan, and RCPS Incident/Threat Communication Guidelines guide these communications efforts.

RCPS will provide regular updates to families during an ongoing situation involving a threat. The frequency of communication will depend on the nature of the threat and the progress of the investigation. The goal is to keep families informed while ensuring the safety and privacy of all individuals involved​. If RCPS anticipates that more than one message will need to be sent during the situation, the estimated timeline for follow-up will be provided in the initial message.

RCPS may send follow-up messages by text rather than a phone call.

If you receive a notification that a threat was made but deemed not credible, it means that after a thorough investigation, the Threat Assessment Team has determined there is no immediate danger. The threat lacks intent, means, or seriousness, and the individual involved is not considered a risk to the school community.

Often, there is limited additional information that RCPS can legally provide, as the school division is bound by applicable privacy laws such as the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) and Code of Virginia § 22.1-79.4 and § 2.2-3705.4.

Upon a determination that the person poses a threat of violence or physical harm to themselves or others, the Threat Assessment Team will immediately report its determination to the Superintendent or her designee. RCPS will then immediately attempt to notify the parent/guardian if it is a student who has made the threat, as well as the parent(s)/guardian(s) of any student(s) who are the subject of the threat.

If it is determined that the person poses a threat of violence, the Threat Assessment Team will develop, implement, and monitor an individualized plan to intervene. A member of the Threat Assessment Team will be designated as a case manager to monitor the person’s status. Updates must be submitted regularly until the case is resolved.

A case is not closed until the Threat Assessment Team agrees that the individual does not pose a threat of violence, harm, or significant disruption to themselves or others.

Throughout this process, RCPS works with law enforcement, which could include questioning, search, and/or arrest.

The Threat Assessment Team will implement a case management plan, also known as a safety plan, to support any student who is found to have made a credible threat. This is highly individualized, and is based on the student’s needs and background, and often includes multiple interventions.

Examples include:

• counseling
• regular meetings with an administrator
• moving to another public school, moving to a private day school, moving to virtual school, or temporary/permanent removal from school
• disciplinary actions in accordance with RCPS Student Code of Conduct Tiered Systems of Support

RCPS developed a flowchart illustrating the communication guidelines that are used when there is an active incident or threat. These guidelines are based on the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services’ model policies and guidelines, RCPS threat assessment policies, RCPS Crisis Communications Plan, and RCPS Crisis Standard Operating Procedures.

The guidelines have been reviewed by the School Board and a Communications Focus Group made up of parents/guardians, teachers, and principals to ensure they balance transparency and accountability while also protecting the privacy of individuals involved.

Additional information is available from RCPS and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Threat Assessment Process

• School Board Policy EBB – Threat Assessment Teams
• Code of Virginia § 22.1-79.4
• Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Threat Assessment Resources 

Disciplinary Process

• Student Code of Conduct (beginning on page 36)

 Reporting of Threats

• School Board Policy CLA – Reporting Acts of Violence and Substance Abuse
• Code of Virginia § 22.1-279.3:1

Communication

• RCPS Incident/Threat Communication Guidelines
• Emergency Protocols
• Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.4
• Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act