More than 220 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) school resource officers (SROs) and school security professionals are convening for training this week at Northwest High School.

They join SROs and school security staff from across the state in the required training, which was developed by the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS). The training is a requirement of the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018, which enhances protocols; increases funding for school safety; and significantly increases oversight of school safety and security by MCSS and the Maryland State Department of Education. 

The 40-hour training focuses on key school safety and law enforcement prevention and intervention strategies, adolescent/youth development, de-escalation, bullying investigation, disability awareness, maintaining a positive school climate, victimization of youth and other key content areas.

The curriculum has been approved by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.