See It.
Say It. Act.

Warning signs are rarely invisible. The question is whether anyone is trained to see them — and safe enough to speak up.

Every act of targeted school violence has a pre-attack phase. Early identification is the work of making sure that phase never becomes the last one.

— PCI Framework, Volume I

What is this pillar?

Early Identification is where vigilance becomes compassion. It's not about profiling students or treating every struggling kid like a threat — it's about building the systems and the trust that allow warning signs to surface before they escalate into crisis.

This pillar centers behavioral threat assessment: a structured, evidence-based process that brings together school counselors, administrators, law enforcement, and community partners to evaluate concerning behavior and connect students to support — not punishment.

PCI believes that the earlier we see a student in distress, the more options we have. Identification done right is an act of care, not surveillance.

80% of students told someone before an act of violence

4–5 people on average were told before school shootings occurred

↑63% of schools lack a formal behavioral threat assessment team

Key Components

Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams

Multidisciplinary school teams trained to evaluate, triage, and respond to concerning student behavior using structured protocols.

Educator Training

Equipping teachers and staff with the knowledge to recognize warning signs — and the confidence to report them without fear of overreacting.

Structured Referral Pathways

Clear, accessible processes so that when a concern is raised, it goes somewhere — and something actually happens as a result.

Anonymous Reporting Systems

Safe, stigma-free channels for students and community members to flag warning signs — because not every concern can be raised out loud.

When a student tells someone something is wrong, that is not a burden. That is the system working exactly as it should.

PCI in Action

BTA Team Development Supporting pilot schools in establishing or strengthening behavioral threat assessment teams — including training, protocols, and cross-agency coordination with law enforcement partners like Linwood PD.

Warning Signs Training for Educators Providing professional development that helps every adult in a school building — not just specialists — understand what to look for and exactly what to do when they see it.

Student Tip Line Integration Helping schools implement and promote anonymous reporting tools that give students a real, trusted outlet — and ensuring those tips are actually followed up on.

Data-Informed Review Processes Working with schools to build consistent documentation and review practices so patterns of concern don't fall through the cracks between departments, semesters, or school years.

See It.Say It. Act.

See It.
Say It. Act.