Albany, NY (January 2026) New York State Parent Teacher Association (NYS PTA), in conjunction with its new school safety partner CLPS, is proud to announce the rollout of the ACT Program, employing the use of evidence-based methodologies and school security experts to continually enhance school safety for students and staff.
The ACT (Accountability, Collaboration, Transparency) Program provides comprehensive safety assessments at schools performed by veteran law enforcement and security experts. It was designed to identify strengths, close safety gaps and personalize actionable steps for continuous improvement.
“NYS PTA is finding new ways to Measure our Mission for children – and increasing our programs, support, and services for school safety and security is one of our top priorities,” offered Patty Frazier, NYS PTA President. “Our more than 1,500 PTAs will be involved in educational sessions, workshops, and webinars on how we can continue to support our children in – and out – of the classroom. We are excited for this work, it is paramount to making every child’s potential a reality.”
“Every parent, educator and leader share one non-negotiable priority — keeping our children safe,” added Kyle Belokopitsky, Esq., NYS PTA Executive Director. “As a parent of a high school child, I know this concern all too well, every morning as I watch my child walk into his school building. I am reassured that his amazing educators and staff will do all they can to keep him safe, and thank law enforcement for their partnership as I see our local police department parked out front each morning. But as threats to school safety evolve, proactive, meaningful and comprehensive partnerships between schools, first responders, trusted experts AND parents and families have never been more important. The ACT Program will help us achieve this urgent goal of enhanced school safety.”
The scope of these assessments includes one-on-one interviews with key school administrators, in-depth site walkthroughs and inspections, and thorough reviews of:
- Secure Access of Buildings (External and Internal; Locking systems; Access controls; Visitor management)
- Grounds and Property Safety (Playgrounds; Athletic fields; Parking areas; Bus pickup/drop off zones)
- Large Group Assembly Areas (Auditoriums; Cafeterias; Gymnasiums; Student commons; Library media centers)
- Use of Surveillance Equipment (CCTV; Motion detection; Alarms; Background check/tracking software)
- Communication Equipment, Devices, and Capabilities (PA systems; Cellular service; Radios; Panic Alert systems)
- Emergency Plans (District-Wide/Building-Level/Evacuation/Reunification) Emergency Training and Drills (Compliance; Professional development)
- Other General Student Safety Considerations, as needed
The objective findings, provided in detailed reports and consultations with school leaders, will be used to help implement appropriate safety improvements. The program is BOCES CoSER aid eligible, making it easier, and extremely affordable, for districts to access this critical service.
Crisis Leadership Preparedness Solutions (CLPS) will administer the multi-faceted school safety program, which is endorsed by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.
“At CLPS, our goal is to synergize NYS PTAs efforts to continually strengthen safety and security for all students and staff across New York State,” said Dr. Matthew Miraglia, Founder and President/CEO of CLPS. “As a parent, former police detective and counter intelligence officer, I understand the urgency and emotional responsibility that comes with protecting students and staff. The ACT Plan is specifically designed to accomplish this all-important goal.”
The three innovative key pillars of the ACT Program include:
- Accountability – Fostering a culture where every decision-maker and community leader owns a role in protecting children,
- Collaboration – Building unified partnerships among school leaders, first responders, and
parents to prepare for both natural and human-caused emergencies,
- Transparency – Encouraging open communication between school leaders and communities to ensure safety remains at the forefront of every policy and plan.
PTA members from across the state will play a pivotal role in advocating for the ACT Program, educating school board members and administrators about the need to further improve protection for students.
Visit ACT Now to learn more about the program and maximize school safety and security outcomes.
NYS PTA
NYS PTA is one of the oldest and largest child membership and advocacy associations in NYS, supporting our 2.6 million school children. Founded in 1897, its mission is to be a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child. Read more here: https://nyspta.org/.
CLPS
Founded in 2006, CLPS (Crisis Leadership Preparedness Solutions) is a leading provider of crisis, risk, emergency and threat prevention and management technologies and services. Using cutting-edge technology, evidence-based assessments and customized training by seasoned law enforcement experts, CLPS provides clients with unparalleled risk management outcomes that prevent incidents of violence and mitigate injuries and casualties when they unfortunately do occur. Learn more at www.CLPSconsultants.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
NYS PTA: Kyle Belokopitsky, execdirector@nyspta.org, O: 518-452-8808
CLPS: Dr. Matthew Miraglia, matthew@CLPSconsultants.com, C: 914-224-3140