On December 2012, the United States was shocked by the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook, Connecticut, Elementary School in which 20 children and 6 adult staff members were fatally shot. With this reaction came the widespread recognition that this was another in a growing list of school shootings in the United States. There seemed to be many more questions than answers, and the questions helped drive the creation of the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative (CSSI) in 2014.

How can we reduce the likelihood of violence in schools? How should we identify potential internal threats within the student body—and how should this information be shared and used? What changes could be made to school buildings or on school grounds to better prevent violence or access from external threats? And how should technology be used to detect threats and prevent school violence?