Coalition for Transforming School Safety

Our Vermont-based Coalition for Transforming School Safety (formerly the Police out of Schools Coalition) came together in the summer of 2020 to dispel the myth that schools are safer with police in Vermont schools. This group has focused on ending bullying and harassment and dialogue around how to keep schools safe by implementing restorative and transformative justice in schools.

Narratives for Change

This coalition launched a powerful storytelling project that aims to shed light on experiences with harassment, hazing, and bullying in schools in Fall 2023.

The project seeks to raise awareness about the impact of these negative behaviors and advocate for positive change within schools statewide. We believe that by sharing collective stories, we can create connections and validation that support a healing process for affected students. The group is currently writing a report based on the stories that were told.

In spring 2025, we hosted an all-day youth-led training that includes three workshops to empower youth to organize and learn how to address bullying, harassment, and hazing in their schools. The workshop covered 1) bystander intervention, 2) know your rights, and 3) advocacy initiatives in schools. Some of those students came together to created a Hazing, Harassment, and Bullying Toolkit that’s by youth and for youth.

In Fall 2025, after we discovered that the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) was re-writing their official Hazing, Harassment, and Bullying Policy, we sprung to action and activated our community. We gathered recommendations from students and families directly impacted by HHB and put together a list of policy recommendations. Then we encouraged the community to write a letter to the HHB council and education lawmakers. We also hosted a press conference (featured in WCAX, Colchester Sun, and VT Digger) and a speakout which was attended by representatives from the Agency of Education.

Behavioral Threat Assessments

Currently, Vermont schools are not required to do Behavior Threat Assessments. However, all schools will be required to have a trained Behavioral Threat Assessment Team by July 1, 2025. There are limits on when a Behavioral Threat Assessment can be used. Learn the facts about threat assessments, how they can put children (especially those with marginalized identities) at risk, and what you can do if a child you know is undergoing a threat assessment.

Check out our toolkit.

Police Out of Schools Toolkit

In spring of 2022 we launched our collaborative Police Out of Schools Toolkit. Here you’re find a compilation of wisdom including location and national research as well as resources and stories from our grassroots movement in Vermont.

Check out the toolkit.

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