Protecting Our Students: Building the First National School Safety Score Standard
In today’s climate of heightened concern over school violence, bullying, and student well-being, one question dominates conversations among parents, educators, and policymakers: How can we truly know if a school is safe? Traditional metrics like test scores and graduation rates tell us about academics, but they leave a critical blind spot—the day-to-day security that protects our children.
Protecting Our Students, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Robert Jordan, is changing that. Driven by a mission to end gun violence in K-12 schools and ensure every child learns in a secure environment, Jordan has pioneered the first comprehensive, standardized national school safety scoring system. Through a decade of dedicated research and innovation—supported by the nonprofit and powered by the SITE|SAFETYNET℠ platform—this breakthrough framework delivers what no prior system has: a verifiable, real-time school safety score built on rigorous, nationwide standardization.
The Innovation: The 94-Point Safety Zone Assessment℠
At the core of this work is the proprietary 94-Point Safety Zone Assessment℠ (94-PSZ)—a groundbreaking schema that did not exist before Jordan’s efforts. It divides every school campus into 94 distinct safety zones, covering everything from perimeter security and entry points to hallways, classrooms, playgrounds, mental health resources, emergency protocols, threat assessment teams, and community partnerships with law enforcement.
This isn’t a superficial checklist. The system generates a Dynamic Safety Score℠ (DSS)—an overall safety rating plus detailed scores for each zone—providing schools with precise, actionable insights. Schools can baseline their current safety level, track improvements over time, identify hidden vulnerabilities, and allocate resources where they matter most. Real-time monitoring via tools like SafeSchool REPORT℠ turns data into continuous progress, fostering proactive prevention rather than reactive measures.
Before this framework, school safety assessments were fragmented, inconsistent, or limited to basic compliance checks. Jordan’s approach fills that void, creating the blueprint for a true national standard—often likened to a “FICO score” for school safety—that empowers every K-12 institution, regardless of size or location.
Why a National Safety Score Standard Matters Now
National surveys highlight the urgency: Educators report that safety directly influences student achievement and well-being, yet many express ongoing fears about attacks, bullying, and post-pandemic behavioral challenges. Parents demand transparency to make informed choices about where their children learn. With rising incidents in some areas despite overall declines in certain crime stats, the call for measurable, standardized safety has never been louder.
Protecting Our Students addresses this demand head-on. The opt-in model keeps detailed assessments private by default—schools use them internally for self-improvement without external scrutiny. Only when a school chooses to share its Dynamic Safety Score (to highlight strengths, build family trust, or demonstrate leadership) does it become public. This balanced approach protects sensitive information while encouraging excellence and accountability.
A Call to Action for a Safer Tomorrow
Robert Jordan and Protecting Our Students have built something transformative: the first true national school safety score standard, grounded in the 94-safety-zone framework and delivered through innovative, cloud-based technology. It’s no longer guesswork—it’s measurable, improvable, and scalable.
Every child deserves to learn without fear. By embracing this pioneering system, schools, districts, policymakers, and communities can prioritize protection, reassure families, and create environments where education thrives.
To learn more, explore the mission, request a complimentary assessment, or support the work, visit protecting our students.org. Contact Robert Jordan directly at robert@protectingourstudents.org to get involved—because protecting our students starts with knowing the gaps and closing them together.
