Training Module:
Annual Safety Plan Training: required by Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act - Updated August 2025
In July 2000, the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act (Project SAVE) was signed into law to promote a safer and more effective learning environment within New York State schools. SAVE legislation has multiple requirements, including a requirement that all school staff receive annual school safety training that includes components on violence prevention and mental health, as well as on the district- and building-level safety plans. The Superintendent must submit annual certification to the Commissioner that all staff have received this annual training by September 15.
The NYSED Office of Student Support Services and New York State Center for School Safety have developed the following resources to support your existing school violence prevention training program. These materials can help guide your efforts to provide the required annual training on your Building-Level Emergency Response Plan, which must also include components on violence prevention and mental health.
This Annual Safety Plan Training is a recorded slide presentation designed to provide an overview of student mental health and violence prevention, and includes prompts to guide your staff through a review of your District-Wide School Safety Plan and Building-Level Emergency Response Plan.
PLEASE NOTE: This session is not intended to function as a standalone; but rather, to serve as a foundation onto which your school-specific safety training can be layered. Included in this session are opportunities to lead participants through discussions and to review school and district protocols and safety plans. As you move through the slides, it is essential to provide building-specific information. Please identify a member of your Student Support Services team (e.g., counselor, social worker, psychologist) to lead or support the discussions on mental health and violence prevention, and members of your Safety Team to talk through the content specific to your District-Wide School Safety Plan and Building-Level Emergency Response Plan.
For detailed information on the requirements of Project SAVE, please visit the Office of Student Support Services SAVE webpage.
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Student Support Services: Contact Us
(518) 486-6090
Note: These materials were revised during the summer of 2025. Please continue to check the NYS Education Department website for any updates and include those updates in your training program.
