OK2SAY showing significant impact on Michigan schools and students

Michigan college students are taking an lively position within the combat in opposition to faculty violence.

That is evident from the 20% improve in tip quantity OK2ZEG.

In keeping with the Annual report 2024 Following Michigan’s Confidential Pupil Security Tip Line, launched by the Michigan State Police, an unprecedented 11,671 suggestions had been acquired, which is the very best stage of reporting because the program’s inception in 2014, underscoring the vital position it performs in defending Michigan’s youth.

“The Michigan State Police is proud to assist OK2SAY, a program that turns college students into lively companions in their very own security,” Col. James F. Grady II, director of MSP, stated in a information launch. “That is the facility of OK2SAY. It is not nearly reporting considerations; it is about selling a tradition of braveness.”

The 2024 OK2SAY report exhibits acquired suggestions in 25 classes, with the 5 most important varieties of suggestions regarding:

• Bullying (2,005 suggestions)
• Suicide (1.08 suggestions)
• Medicines (1,301)
• Sexual violence/misconduct/exploitation (1,059)
• Different elements, together with nervousness, stress, melancholy and harassment (1,376)

Do the information assist?

In keeping with the annual report, the tip line acquired 25 suggestions that led to the seizure of weapons and one other 228 suggestions that resulted within the seizure of medication or alcohol. Many different suggestions have led tons of of faculty districts (343) to conduct a complete behavioral risk evaluation or suicide investigation.

“Sure, I imagine they assist forestall incidents,” stated Armada Space Colleges Superintendent Mike Musary, whose district has an “nameless report” hyperlink on its web site as one other reporting possibility for its college students, employees and group. “Our district has a employees wellness program and the center faculty has a student-run wellness membership to advertise psychological well being. As well as, every of our colleges has a social employee and counselor and we have now a district nurse whose workplace is in our elementary faculty.”

When it comes to safety, we have now secured the entrances to all our colleges, quite a few cameras and a safety contact in every constructing,” stated Musary.

The OK2SAY tip line is accessible 24/7 and the information are made by:

• Name 8-855-OK2SAY (855-565-2729)
• Textual content 652729 (OK2SAY)
• Electronic mail OK2SAY@mi.gov
• Visiting the OK2SAY web site at ok2say.com
• OK2SAY cellular app out there for obtain from iPhone and Android app shops

The Workplace of Faculty Security, MSP Grants and Group Companies Division oversees the OK2SAY outreach program as a part of its dedication to offering high quality providers to varsities that promote protected and safe studying environments to cut back threats, construct belief and enhance the standard of life for Ok-12 college students. OK2SAY was based in 2018 below the authority of Public Act 435.

“OK2SAY is a superb device for anybody to report potential threats or injury to our colleges,” stated Piper Bognar, Superintendent of Van Dyke Public Colleges. “It takes all of us to maintain one another protected, and never all issues occur in the course of the faculty day when a scholar can inform a trusted grownup who has the assets to research. Any assist to cease violence or threats is important and useful. Our college students, employees and households are our districts.”

Tip info is maintained by MSP, however every public and personal faculty is required to offer MSP with the emergency contact info of at the very least one faculty official twice a 12 months. To advertise program accountability, the OK2SAY liaison, native regulation enforcement personnel, or group psychological well being employees will probably be requested to submit consequence reviews detailing how incidents are dealt with.

“Each tip, each expression, is a testomony to a scholar’s dedication to their group,” Grady stated. “It is a scholar saying, ‘I care, and I wish to make a distinction.’ This braveness is the muse of safer colleges and stronger communities.”

FYI

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Workplace has to date reviewed 34 instances involving faculty threats from January to June this 12 months, based on the District Legal professional’s Workplace. Word: A false report of a terrorism allegation is just not essentially a school-related incident, however probably is.

The variety of instances reviewed over the previous 5 years, together with these rejected, included:

• 91 instances had been assessed in 2024.
• 92 instances had been assessed in 2023.
• 122 instances had been assessed in 2022.
• 60 instances had been assessed in 2021.
• 20 instances had been assessed in 2020.

Go to for extra info michigan.gov/ok2say.

Initially printed: August 14, 2025 at 11:56 AM EDT