What is the difference between the school safety audit and the school safety survey?
The school safety audit definition is explained in Virginia Code § 22.1-279.8:
School Safety Audit Questions
Should I conduct a building walk-through with my school safety team?
Yes. The 2013 General Assembly passed legislation (HB 2346) mandating the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety to develop a school safety and vulnerability checklist for schools to use and mandated schools to conduct an annual walk through inspection using these checklists. This tool is available here. The checklists will be required to be completed on a triennial basis with the first due date of August 31, 2014.
How is the Department of Education (DOE) involved in the school safety audit process?
The legislation concerning school safety audits changed in July 2005 giving total responsibility for the content and analysis of the school safety audit process to the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety. The Virginia Department of Education no longer has legislative oversight of this process. The School Safety Protocol Checklists published by VDOE in 1997 are no longer necessary and you do not have to send certification to VDOE on their completion.