Need Ideas To Improve School Safety? Watch What Peers Do With Fed's $27 Million Boost

Since schools are becoming increasingly more dangerous, it's time to take the task of emergency planning more seriously. That effort may come easier to 91 school districts nationwide that received a share of $27 million to fortify their emergency response management plans.

These grants will support safe learning environments "by helping more school districts strengthen their crisis planning and better coordinate with the entire community to ensure the safety of our schools and students," said Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings in an Aug. 29 announcement.

Details: The school districts receiving funds from The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) discretionary grant program must commit to developing written plans that are:

Tip: It may be a good idea to follow the emergency management improvements the winning districts make in order to get strategies to improve your school's safety plan. Find a list of the winning districts and project managers' names at www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/08/08292007.html.