The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Office of School Safety (OSS) has published its 2023-2024 annual report for the Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO) program. SUSO is a statewide threat reporting tipline available to all schools in Wisconsin, acting as a central hub for OSS initiatives and connecting schools with various services from local, state, and national partners.

Attorney General Josh Kaul commented on the program's impact: “Kids in our schools should be able to focus on what they’re learning in class without having to worry about their safety. Speak Up, Speak Out has been a remarkable success, assisting an increasing number of students and helping many schools that are working to take a comprehensive approach to school safety.”

During the 2023-2024 school year, SUSO received 5,270 tips—an increase of over 40 percent compared to the previous year. Bullying remains the most common issue reported since SUSO began in 2020. This trend aligns with national data where bullying is frequently the top concern. Early awareness allows schools to intervene before situations escalate into violence.

Students across Wisconsin have consistently reached out to SUSO each year since its inception, contributing to safer school environments. The rise in tips and positive interactions between students and SUSO staff highlight the program's credibility among youth as a reliable resource for reporting concerns.

The annual report underscores OSS’s commitment to preventing violence in schools and responding effectively during crises to minimize trauma and resume educational activities swiftly. During the past school year, OSS supported several schools with crisis response and recovery efforts.

OSS provides free training on violence prevention, protection strategies, crisis response, and recovery methods. These include Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and Standard Reunification Method (SRM). Between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024, SRP and SRM training was delivered to 838 individuals from public school districts, private schools, tribal schools, law enforcement agencies, emergency management entities, EMS providers, fire departments, city administrations, bus companies, and other community organizations.

Earlier this year Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 1050 into law authorizing bridge funding for OSS through September 2025. This financial support aims at maintaining ongoing safety initiatives while seeking stable long-term funding as part of the state's biennial budget for 2025-2027.