The Joffe Family
- Active assailants on campus
- Natural disasters and severe weather events
- Political unrest and ICE presence
- Cybercrime
The inclusion of cybercrime among the top concerns is unsurprising given the growing number of attacks targeting schools and the increasingly central role technology plays in day-to-day operations.
Natural disasters continue to increase in both cost and scope.
The 2025 fires in the Los Angeles area became the fourth-costliest weather event in U.S. history. Long after the fires were extinguished, schools and communities continued grappling with air- and water-quality concerns. Meanwhile, more than 20 major insurance companies have stopped issuing new policies in affected areas.
Political and social tensions are impacting school communities.
The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley reported that increased ICE presence contributed to attendance challenges in at least one school district and coincided with rising incidents of identity-based bullying.
Cyber threats are becoming operational threats.
Several high-profile ransomware attacks highlighted how vulnerable school systems and platforms remain. Cyber incidents no longer affect only IT departments — they disrupt every facet of school operations. Historically, cybercrime increases during periods of geopolitical conflict, and the war with Iran proved no exception.
Where did we grow?
Notably, this year’s survey responses focused not only on risks, but also on prevention.
The most frequently cited priority among respondents was strengthening campus access management. Schools reported focusing on:
- Addressing porous campus boundaries
- Improving visitor management systems
- Reinforcing door-locking protocols
- Standardizing entry procedures
The second most common area of focus was training and preparedness. Schools emphasized the importance of:
- Ensuring faculty and staff receive ongoing training
- Establishing the right cadence for drills
- Updating Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs)
- Strengthening behavioral threat assessment programs
These findings are encouraging. In a world where many risks feel outside of a school’s control, prevention remains firmly within it.
The 2026–2027 school year will be defined by continued investment in prevention and preparedness.
Schools will continue strengthening behavioral threat assessment programs and improving processes for reporting concerns before they escalate.
They will invest further in cybersecurity practices and resilience against digital threats.
They will refine Emergency Operations Plans, build muscle memory through drills and tabletop exercises, and place renewed emphasis on reunification planning and exercises.
Most importantly, schools will continue working to build cultures of safety that extend beyond security teams and into every department, classroom, and community interaction.
Because effective school safety is no longer a standalone initiative — it is an institutional responsibility.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Joffe can help your school conduct a safety assessment and develop a plan with concrete action steps for improvement, check out the Joffe website or schedule a call to learn more.
NOTE: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Schools should consult their own legal counsel to evaluate specific situations.
