SB 68 Audit Readiness Checklist
Section 1: Safety Coordinator Designation
Every covered school must appoint a qualified safety coordinator with statutory authority. Confirm every box below before July 1, 2026.
- Safety coordinator named in writing, with role, authority, and reporting line documented
- Board minutes record the appointment and the scope of authority granted
- Coordinator's qualifications match SB 68 expectations (training, experience, time allocation)
- Time-allocation expectation is realistic (this is not an unfunded add-on to a busy principal)
- Coordinator has authority to direct audits, escalate threats, and report to DESE without bypass
- Backup coordinator named for continuity during absence or transition
- Coordinator's contact information published internally and shared with first responders
Section 2: Comprehensive Safety Audit
The audit must be conducted to the statutory standard, not a recycled internal review. Independence and documentation are the two questions auditors will ask first.
- Independent auditor engaged (no operational role at the school)
- Audit scope documented and signed off by the board
- Physical plant walkthrough completed (entry control, sightlines, locks, signage)
- Visitor management procedures observed in operation, not just reviewed in policy
- Emergency signage and exit routes inspected against current standards
- Crisis response plans pressure-tested with a tabletop exercise
- Staff training records pulled, dated, and matched to current rosters
- Reunification procedures documented end-to-end with named responsible parties
- Findings report delivered with a corrective action plan and owners assigned
- Audit deliverables retained in a secure, retrievable location for state review
Section 3: Threat Assessment Protocols
Threat assessment is not a checklist exercise. Auditors expect a defined process, trained personnel, and an evidence trail.
- Threat assessment team designated and trained to a recognized standard
- Intake, triage, and escalation procedure documented in writing
- Documentation template adopted for every reported concern
- Decision-rights matrix clarifies who can pause class, restrict access, or notify law enforcement
- Coordination with local law enforcement documented and tested
- Family notification protocol clarified, including timing and channel
- Records retention policy meets state requirements and protects student privacy
- Annual review of cases conducted to surface patterns and refine response
Section 4: DESE Reporting
DESE will ask for documentation in a specific format. Build the reporting trail now, not the week of the deadline.
- Reporting calendar reflects DESE's stated deadlines and internal lead times
- Document inventory cross-references every SB 68 requirement to a source file
- Submission owner identified (not just the safety coordinator)
- Board awareness confirmed via meeting minutes for major findings
- Communication plan ready for parents, staff, and authorizers if findings require it
- Annual review cadence locked into the board calendar after the first submission
Section 5: The Three Highest-Risk Gaps We See
If you are short on time, these are the three places where most schools we audit are exposed.
- Coordinator named but without documented authority — auditors will flag this immediately.
- Internal review treated as the comprehensive audit — independence is the controlling word in the statute.
- Threat assessment relies on undocumented informal processes — without a paper trail, you cannot demonstrate compliance.
We built this from the inside.
If anything on this list is uncomfortable, you are exactly the kind of organization we work with. A 20-minute conversation is enough to know if we can help.