The online audit tool is available free of charge for all schools at http://safeschools.ingersollrand.com/survey/survey.asp.

Over the past decade, districts have made significant strides in developing effective school security processes and programs. The study reveals the following about school security:

- More than 90 percent of districts responding to the survey have written crisis procedures addressing protocols for fire, weather, medical emergencies and violence.

- Three-quarters of respondents possess and make parents aware of systems that will be used to communicate with parents in case of emergency.

- Seventy-three percent of respondents report that their districts practice lockdown procedures on a routine basis. Approximately two-thirds of respondents report that staff are continuously trained and drilled on security procedures.

- More than 70 percent of respondents report that students and staff are periodically surveyed about their perception of the extent to which bullying is present in the school community.

The study also directs school districts with common-sense measures they can implement to increase the safety of students at little or no cost during these challenging economic times. For example, school systems can organize school safety committees with broad-based stakeholder representation that meet regularly to review school policies, programs, responsibilities, issues, and needs.

As a follow-up to the study, AASA, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and RETA Security Inc. are discussing how to best leverage the results of the study to the advantage of America's school communities. Potential plans include regional training initiatives for AASA members, which will also encompass actionable programming for areas that need no additional financial resources.

"School leaders are dedicated to making sure students, teachers and staff are in the safest possible learning environments," noted AASA Executive Director Daniel A. Domenech. "To that end, we welcome the opportunity to use the data presented in this landmark study to ensure all schools have the best security resources available."

The 2008 National School Safety Study is based on the Risk Mitigation Assessment, a survey instrument created by Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and RETA Security Inc. The assessment, which can be accessed at http://safeschools.ingersollrand.com/survey/survey.asp, identifies potential threats and determines action items to ensure the security of school systems.

"Ingersoll Rand undertook this initiative in keeping with our corporate stewardship responsibility," said Beverly Vigue, vice president of the company's Education Solutions group. "The Risk Mitigation Assessment as a tool to help our nation's public schools is an excellent example of the ways public-private partnerships can be used for the common good. There's also tremendous value in getting the most accurate pulse on trends in school security in order to remain at the forefront in developing truly effective solutions that keep learning environments safe and productive."

"It is important for schools to place first priority on improving the areas of access control and communications," added Paul Timm, PSP, president of RETA Security. "Demonstrating that there are low-cost, common-sense measures each school district can implement is a significant first step in providing a safer learning environment for students, staff, and visitors."

The full survey results are available on the AASA website through the following link http://www.aasa.org/files/PDFs/Publications/2008SchoolSafetyStudyFinal.pdf.