By Alethia Kasben
Gongwer News Service
Michigan’s student safety program, OK2Say, received its highest ever incident reporting period since launching nearly a decade ago, with a 31 percent increase in reports made in 2023 compared to the year prior.
OK2Say allows anyone to confidentially report criminal activities or threatening behaviors directed at students, schools and school employees.
"As we see increasing reports of suicide, bullying, drugs, assault, and self-harm, we must keep investing in mental support for our kids," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement this week. "Michigan's OK2SAY programs focuses on violence intervention and prevention to keep kids safe at home, at school, and in the community. We know that lives have been saved, school violence has been prevented, and many Michigan students have received the support they need because of the OK2SAY program and the record, bipartisan investments we have made in campus safety and mental health. Together, let's keep prioritizing our kids and ensure they have the support they need to thrive."
The OK2Say annual report, released this week, shows the program received 9,686 reports in 2023 compared to 7,415 in 2022.
The top five tip categories were bullying (1,769), suicide threats (1,462), drugs (1,286), sexual assault/misconduct/exploitation (815) and threats (741).
Of the more than 9,000 reports, 24 involved the seizure of a weapon and 77 involved the seizure of drugs or alcohol, the report said. Many more involved notifying a parent, school counseling and continuing to monitor the situation.
The number of outcome reports completed by schools and local law enforcement increased substantially in 2023. In 2022, 1,895 were completed and in 2023, 3,468 were completed, an 82 percent increase.
Gongwer News Service
Michigan’s student safety program, OK2Say, received its highest ever incident reporting period since launching nearly a decade ago, with a 31 percent increase in reports made in 2023 compared to the year prior.
OK2Say allows anyone to confidentially report criminal activities or threatening behaviors directed at students, schools and school employees.
"As we see increasing reports of suicide, bullying, drugs, assault, and self-harm, we must keep investing in mental support for our kids," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement this week. "Michigan's OK2SAY programs focuses on violence intervention and prevention to keep kids safe at home, at school, and in the community. We know that lives have been saved, school violence has been prevented, and many Michigan students have received the support they need because of the OK2SAY program and the record, bipartisan investments we have made in campus safety and mental health. Together, let's keep prioritizing our kids and ensure they have the support they need to thrive."
The OK2Say annual report, released this week, shows the program received 9,686 reports in 2023 compared to 7,415 in 2022.
The top five tip categories were bullying (1,769), suicide threats (1,462), drugs (1,286), sexual assault/misconduct/exploitation (815) and threats (741).
Of the more than 9,000 reports, 24 involved the seizure of a weapon and 77 involved the seizure of drugs or alcohol, the report said. Many more involved notifying a parent, school counseling and continuing to monitor the situation.
The number of outcome reports completed by schools and local law enforcement increased substantially in 2023. In 2022, 1,895 were completed and in 2023, 3,468 were completed, an 82 percent increase.
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