S5:  School safety staff state summit

In person training is strongly recommended, due to the nature of this job and the training requirements.  However, for those unable to attend in person training, an online option is available.

Each ESD is responsible for providing this training to the School Safety Staff (SSS) in their region.  The information here applies to ESD 105 only.  If you are assigned to a school in another ESD, please contact them directly.

• Fill out this form:  Request for HB 1214 Online Training - ESD 105
• We will register you in a Canvas Class and send you a sign-in link.
• The Canvas Class will provide instructions, videos and a Participants' Guide that will assist you in completing the course.
• For questions, please contact erica.gomez@esd105.org or chris.weedin@esd105.org.
• This training must be completed within 6 months of your start date working with students.
• Best of luck and thanks for all you do!

Please note:  You must also complete the On-the-Job Training and Monthly Check-Ins (for non-SRO's) in order to receive proof of completion.  See below for information on these additional requirements.

By RCW requirement, each Educational Service District (ESD) must verify and provide proof of completion to school safety staff who have completed the HB 1214 training.   Training is not considered complete until your ESD has done so.  To receive proof of completion, please follow the guidelines below.

Because of the different deadlines for each training component, participants should request proof of completion for each stage. 

Only when all stages are complete will a final Proof of Completion certificate be issued.

There are multiple components to the training required by Washington State Law (RCW 28A.320.124), as originally passed in HB 1214 (2021).

Classroom Training

All school safety staff are required to complete the following classroom training units within six months of starting work.  See unit titles below for a more detailed description of course objectives and content (note:  the details listed below apply to the currently available online training videos).

1. Constitutional & Civil Rights of Children in School
2. Child Adolescent Development (Adolescent Brain Development)
3. Trauma Informed Approaches
4. Recognition and Responding to Youth Mental Health Issues
5. Educational Rights of Students With Disabilities; Disability and Behavior; Best Practices for Interacting With Students With Disabilities
6. Collateral Consequences of Arrest, Referral for Prosecution & Court Involvement
7. Community Resources: Alternatives to Arrest & Prosecution; Pathways to Access Services w/o court or Criminal Justice Involvement
8. Disparities in the Use of Force and Arrests of Children
9. De-Escalation Techniques
10. Restraint and Isolation in Schools
11. Bias Free Policing; Cultural Competency; Diversity Training
12. FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
13. Restorative Justice Principles and Practices

• Criteria
  • How can this lesson help school safety/security staff understand, work with and support students?
  • How can this lesson help build positive relationships with students and improve the educational experience?
• Process
  • Identify subject matter experts in each area.
  • Select trainers in the education community whenever possible.
  • Discuss desired outcome with presenter.
  • Focus on equity, experience and practical application
  • Assess trainer for the ability to effectively communicate with the target audience.
  • Evaluate presentations by observation and participant surveys.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Our team continually works to improve each Unit by working with ESD's and other stakeholders to find the very best material and trainers.  We encourage suggestions and feedback.
  • Groups we have reviewed our work with:
    • State SS-SWAC
    • ESD Regional School Safety Center Directors
    • OSPI Equity Coordinator and Special Services Coordinator

On-the-Job Training

All school safety staff are required to complete two days of on-the-job training with an experienced school safety staff member within one year of starting work.

Guidelines and an observations/confirmation log can be found in the Participant's Guide upon request.

Monthly Check-Ins

All non-SRO school safety staff (privately employed and school employed security staff who are not commissioned law enforcement) are required to complete six monthly check-ins with an experienced school safety staff member within one year of starting work.

Guidelines and an observations/confirmation log can be found in the Participant's Guide upon request.

While HB 1214 does provide a narrow option for waivers, it is strongly recommended that all school safety staff complete the required training.  Waivers can be granted in a rare limited basis and must be requested jointly by the district and the sponsoring agency (if applicable).  Waivers will only be considered when staff has extensive recent (within 3 years) credentialed training in the subject areas.  Waiver requests must be submitted in writing using the provided template and will be reviewed and decided by diverse, multi-disciplinary group that uses a process to review and make determination of no less than 5 ESD’s.  The process will be as follows:  review application, discuss and vote to approve/deny.  For a waiver to be granted requires a majority vote of those present.  Documentation of training (including syllabus or details of course content) and experience must be included with the waiver request.

Requests must be made in writing and will include at a minimum the following information:

Name, sponsoring agency, school district, rationale for classroom units waiver (provide separate rationale for each unit), rationale for On-the-Job Training waiver, rationale for Check-Ins waiver.  Refer to established guidelines for minimum requirements in each area.