CISA Launches New Toolkit to Help K-12 Schools Respond to Anonymous Threats

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a toolkit to help K-12 schools deal with anonymous threats of violence. The resource, titled Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools, aims to provide schools with tailored strategies to address threats, many of which are spread through social media.

The toolkit offers a structured approach to assessing and responding to anonymous threats, preparing for future incidents, and coordinating efforts with law enforcement and mental health professionals. It was developed in collaboration with the FBI, which contributed insights to ensure the resource reflects best practices.

The Growing Impact of Anonymous Threats

Anonymous threats of violence have become a persistent issue for K-12 schools, undermining trust in school safety, disrupting instruction, and overwhelming school and law enforcement resources. These threats can also cause lasting psychological harm to students and staff—not to mention physical harm if they progress beyond the threat stage.

“K-12 schools across the country are experiencing a scourge of anonymous threats of violence. School leaders need scalable solutions to navigate these ever-evolving and burdensome threats,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “This new guidance equips schools with step-by-step strategies to assess and respond to these challenges and to work proactively with law enforcement and community partners.”

Six Key Strategies for Managing Anonymous Threats

The toolkit offers six actionable strategies to help school leaders develop effective responses:

·       Promote Awareness and Reporting: Encourage early reporting to detect and deter potential threats.

• Build Collaborative Partnerships: Involve school administrators, law enforcement, and mental health professionals in planning and response.
• Engage Law Enforcement Strategically: Determine when and how to escalate responses with police involvement.
• Prioritize Immediate Safety: Treat each threat as credible while coordinating with partners to scale response actions.
• Use Threat Assessment Teams: Deploy multidisciplinary teams to intervene if the source of a threat is identified.
• Prepare Year-Round: Establish protocols and conduct regular emergency exercises to ensure readiness.
• Supporting a Diverse Range of Schools

CISA also released a supplemental reference guide summarizing key practices from the full toolkit. More information about the resources can be found on CISA's website.