The SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT (SUSO) Resource Center is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important school safety concerns.  It offers a 24/7 threat reporting system, threat assessment consultation, critical incident response, and general school safety guidance. The program is supported by more than $2 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.  SUSO uses "See Something, Say Something, Do Something" language and encourages students to look out for each other and for the community. SUSO strives to build safe communities by igniting empowerment, support, and protection and stresses that speaking up works and saves lives. 

 

Students, parents, school staff, and community members can submit a school safety concern or threat to SUSO in following ways: 

• Using the SUSO link on middle or high school student Chromebooks under JMS or JHS bookmarks (Students under 13 years of age may only report on the SUSO tip line with the support of an adult)

• Using the SUSO link on staff laptops under managed bookmarks

• SUSO website: https://speakup.widoj.gov/

• By downloading the SUSO app (Android and iOS): Apple Store or Google Play mobile phone application

• By using the toll-free number: 1-800-697-8761  (1-800-MYSUSO-1)

Resource Center staff work around the clock to respond to tips and to deploy a response locally by communicating directly with school administrators, law enforcement, and pupil services team members.

Nationwide, more than half of public middle and high schools now operate a tip line.

Threat reporting systems - or tip lines - are recommended for use by the United States Secret Service when developing comprehensive school violence prevention plans.  Tip lines are used to identify threats to schools as well as other daily safety concerns students encounter, such as bullying, drug use, suicidal thoughts and more.

It’s time to break the code of silence.

Who knows more about what’s going on, in or out of school, than students themselves? Individually and collectively, they play an essential role in keeping Wisconsin schools safe. It’s crucial for students to understand that there’s a clear difference between tattling or “snitching” and disclosing concerning information to a trusted adult to keep themselves and their classmates safe.
The SUSO threat reporting system aims to empower students to share their concerns safely and confidently without fear of retaliation. We encourage you to talk to your students about the importance of letting a trusted adult know about their safety concerns. As always, students can report concerns to a trusted adult at school. SUSO will provide another way for students to share their concerns 24/7. 

See how SUSO works HERE