8 School Safety Books That Experts Recommend for Real Impact

Andrew Pollack's journey from entrepreneur to school safety advocate drives this book's urgent message. He teams with education expert Max Eden and his son Hunter to dissect the policies that allowed the Parkland shooting to happen. You gain insight into how politically driven school policies compromised safety, with detailed examination of Broward County's decisions and their ripple effects nationwide. Chapters reveal specific failures in threat assessment and administrative accountability, making this essential reading for anyone seeking to understand real-world flaws beyond gun debates. If you're looking for deep policy analysis rather than abstract theorizing, this book will sharpen your perspective on protecting students.

Susan T. Vickers brings decades of hands-on educational leadership to this book, drawing on her years as a teacher, building administrator, and superintendent. She confronts the urgent reality that schools remain vulnerable despite high-profile tragedies, emphasizing proactive measures school leaders can implement immediately. You’ll learn specific strategies for training staff as frontline responders and maintaining a nurturing environment while enhancing security. The book targets school administrators committed to balancing safety with a positive school climate, offering practical insights rather than theoretical solutions. For anyone responsible for school safety, this book provides a grounded, experience-based approach to preventing violence without sacrificing community warmth.

This personalized book explores the essential elements of comprehensive school safety management, tailored to your unique school environment and role. It reveals how to integrate expert knowledge with your specific context, focusing on policies, risk assessment, crisis response, and community engagement that matter most to you. The content matches your background and addresses your goals by delving into prevention, threat analysis, safety culture, and response coordination. By synthesizing collective human insights, this tailored guide examines how to build a safer school through informed decision-making and customized safety pathways. It offers a focused learning experience that helps you navigate complex topics with confidence and clarity, ensuring the knowledge directly supports your school’s needs.

What happens when decades of OSHA and DOT compliance expertise meets school safety? E. Scott Dunlap applies his deep understanding of behavior-based safety and organizational culture to expand the conversation beyond typical security measures like metal detectors and uniforms. You’ll gain detailed insights into assessing vulnerabilities, investigating incidents, and crafting broad safety programs that cover everything from bullying to fire and playground hazards. This book suits school administrators and safety professionals who need a practical framework grounded in regulatory experience rather than just theoretical concepts.

Jeffrey D. Yarbrough's extensive background in education and community advocacy shapes this critical examination of school policing. He focuses on dismantling systemic biases that disproportionately affect students of color and LGBTQIA+ youth, exposing how police involvement in disciplinary procedures often harms rather than helps. You’ll gain insight into the unintended consequences of zero-tolerance policies and the importance of integrating behavioral health support to address students' social and emotional needs. This book is particularly valuable if you work in K–12 administration, counseling, or community activism and seek equitable, transformative approaches to school safety that move beyond enforcement.

Drawing from over three decades of experience preparing candidates for exams, Angelo Tropea developed this book specifically to guide those tackling the School Safety Agent New York City exam. You’ll find in-depth coverage of question types like written comprehension, inductive reasoning, and spatial orientation, all illustrated with exercises and detailed answer explanations. The inclusion of a full practice exam alongside clear informational tables and maps enhances your ability to build confidence and proficiency. If you’re aiming to master the exam’s varied cognitive challenges with focused preparation, this book is tailored for you.

This tailored book explores focused steps to enhance school safety within a 30-day timeframe, addressing your specific background and objectives. It covers practical measures to identify risks, engage stakeholders, and implement immediate improvements that fit your unique school environment. By concentrating on quick, actionable wins, the book empowers you to make informed decisions that prioritize student and staff well-being effectively and efficiently. The personalized content matches your interests and experience level, ensuring the material you engage with is relevant and immediately applicable. It reveals how targeted safety enhancements can build momentum toward a safer educational setting, blending expert knowledge with your personal goals to create a clear path forward.

Charles Bell, Ph.D., brings his expertise as an assistant professor in criminal justice to examine how school suspensions affect Black students and their families, particularly in Detroit's urban and suburban schools. Drawing from 160 detailed interviews with students, parents, and teachers, Bell reveals how suspensions do more harm than good—undermining academic success, disrupting parental employment, and sometimes violating laws. You’ll gain insight into how disciplinary measures intended to increase safety often leave students vulnerable to bullying, pushing them toward violence as a form of protection and status. This book is essential if you want to understand the complex social dynamics behind school discipline and its unintended consequences on marginalized communities.

Unlike most school safety books that focus narrowly on emergency response, this work by Eugene L. Zdziarski and colleagues tackles the broader challenge of crafting comprehensive crisis management systems tailored for higher education. You’ll explore practical frameworks such as the crisis matrix and detailed guidance on forming and training crisis teams, alongside considerations for media relations and behavioral intervention. The book’s new chapters on active shooter protocols, Title IX, and infectious disease outbreaks make it particularly relevant today. If you're involved in campus administration or safety planning, this book offers clear tools and checklists to develop or refine effective crisis strategies.

Drawing from her experience as a deputy sheriff and school resource officer, Becky Coyle crafts a rhythmic and illustrated guide to school bus safety aimed at young children. You’ll find clear lessons on approaching, riding, and exiting the bus safely, all presented in a way that captures kids’ attention without overwhelming them. This book sharpens foundational safety awareness, using simple rhymes to reinforce rules that are crucial during early school years. It's especially beneficial if you're a parent or educator seeking to instill early caution and confidence in children navigating school transportation.