A.G. Schuette Joins Law Enforcement, Education Leaders to Announce Statewide Student Safety Initiative, OK2SAY

DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 24 -- The Michigan Attorney General issued the following news release:

Attorney General Bill Schuette today joined officials at University Prep High School to announce OK2SAY, a new hotline and student safety initiative available to Michigan students starting with the 2014-2015 academic year. Also present for the announcement were: Detroit Chief of Police James Craig; Mark Ornstein, CEO of University Prep Schools; Lieutenant Mike Shaw, Michigan State Police; Sandra York, Executive Director of Michigan PTA and Keenan West, recording artist and anti-bullying advocate who wrote an OK2SAY theme song.

OK2SAY enables students to confidentially report potential harm or criminal activities aimed at students, teachers, staff or other school employees. The program will operate as an early warning system in our schools to thwart tragedies before they occur. Created as a result of the Student Safety Act (183 PA 2013), OK2SAY's focus is on early intervention and prevention.

"Our students learn best in a safe environment, but dangerous behaviors threaten to disrupt our schools, and in the worst cases, take the lives of our students," said Attorney General Bill Schuette. "OK2SAY will create an early warning system in our schools and communities to stop tragedies before they start. We cannot sit and wait for the next Columbine or Sandy Hook. We must be proactive to ensure our kids are safe, both inside and outside the classroom. If even one child is saved, this program will be a success."

"University Prep Schools is proud to have been chosen by the attorney general as one of the first schools to take part in the OK2SAY initiative," said Mark Ornstein, CEO of University Prep Schools, the organization that operates UPA and UPSM. "The safety and security of U Prep Schools' students is our number one priority, and this program represents an important step towards eliminating the stigma associated with speaking out against violence in schools."

Fighting the Culture of Silence

According to the U.S. Secret Service, for 81% of violent incidents in U.S. schools, someone other than the attacker had knowledge of the attacker's plan but failed to report it. OK2SAY will discourage the persistent culture of silence among students who fear reporting threatening behavior is intrusive, will lead to retaliation or result in stigmatization as a "snitch."

Key features of OK2SAY include:

* Confidential Reporting: State law protects the confidentiality of the reporter's identity. The identity of the reporting party will not be disclosed to local law enforcement, school officials, or the person against whom a tip is offered, unless the reporter voluntarily chooses to disclose his or her identity. If the reporter is a minor, the parent or guardian must also consent. However, to address any false reports to the program, prosecutors do have authority to seek a court order to review records when investigating false reports.

* Comprehensive Technology: OK2SAY will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. The program will accept tips by phone, text message, email, mobile application, and website form, accessible at www.mi.gov/ok2say. Multimedia attachments with additional information are encouraged.

* Coordinated Intervention: Upon receipt of a tip, specially trained OK2SAY operators at the Michigan State Police will address the immediate need and, as necessary, forward the information to the appropriate responding agency or organization. Most tips are expected to go to schools and local law enforcement agencies, but in some instances, tips may go to local community mental health agencies or the Michigan Department of Human Services.

* Accountability & Complete Disposition: To ensure tips are acted upon, agencies receiving tips are asked to submit outcome reports to the Department of Attorney General. An annual report on the program's impact will detail the types and numbers of tips handled throughout the year.

State officials anticipate OK2SAY will log tips on a variety of issues involving student safety, including: weapons possession, bullying, substance abuse, and suicide threats. Schuette noted that other states have had successes with similar programs.

"OK2SAY gives students a way to break the culture of silence by confidentially reporting anything that threatens their safety or the safety of others," said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the the Michigan State Police. "OK2SAY is one more way we are working together to improve school safety and prevent school violence."

How to Submit a Tip

Students, teachers, parents, school workers, friends and neighbors can all submit tips, if they are aware of a threat in school. Tips can be submitted though the following ways:

Call: 1-8-555-OK2SAY, 1-855-565-2729

Text: 652729 (OK2SAY)

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.mi.gov/ok2say

OK2SAY Mobile App: Available for download in app stores for iPhone and Android.

Community Support for OK2SAY

OK2SAY will be operated through a partnership between the Department of Attorney General, Michigan State Police, state agencies, schools, parents, law enforcement and community leaders. A full list of OK2SAY partners and stakeholders follows.

OK2SAY Partners and Stakeholders

Office of the Governor

Department of Attorney General

Department of Community Health

Department of Education

Department of Human Services

Department of Technology, Management and Budget

Michigan State Police

American Federation of Teachers Michigan

Cadillac Area Public Schools

Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police

Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators

Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools

Michigan Association of Psychologists

Michigan Association of School Administrators

Michigan Association of School Boards

Michigan Association of School Social Workers

Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals

Michigan Catholic Conference

Michigan Education Association

Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association

Michigan High School Athletic Association

Michigan Parent Teacher Association

Michigan Sheriffs Association

Middle Cities Risk Management Trust

Middle Cities Education Association

Middle Cities Workers Compensation Fund

Oakland Schools

Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan

Private Sector Partners who have graciously provided goods, services or time for the benefit of OK2SAY:

Comcast

Lifetouch National Schools Studios

Marketing Resource Group (MRG)

Truscott Rossman

Tom Izzo, MSU Men's Basketball Coach

Suzy Merchant, MSU Women's Basketball Coach

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