Abstract
Although recent events have many concerned about school violence, schools are safer today than in years past. Nevertheless, one act of violence is one too many, and schools need to be ready to implement protocols and procedures, such as behavior threat assessment and management (BTAM), that prevent and mitigate school violence. In the wake of recent acts of targeted and mass violence, multiple reports and agencies have recommended that schools establish multidisciplinary BTAM teams. The primary purpose of a BTAM team is to ensure school safety. However, it is also important to acknowledge that failure to respond to a known or suspected threat can have legal implications. School districts have been held accountable under legal claims of foreseeability and negligence for failing to respond appropriately when a threat has been identified. This handout reviews considerations important to identifying a potentially threatening situation and selecting the appropriate intervention for the student who presents as a possible danger to others.