Educators: More school protection helping students learn

Nationwide, threats are increasing, according to police, school employees, security consultants and others, taking a toll on staff and students' sense of security and their ability to learn.

In the Douglas County school district south of Denver, which has 67,000 students, a crisis team responds at the request of administrators to help teachers, students and parents who have emotional problems because of threats.

An attempt by the Legislature to remove the anonymity of tipsters in cases involving false threats failed last year after opponents said students might be afraid to report suspicious behavior if they think they'll be criticized or bullied for telling on their classmates.

[...] the parents of a high school student slain during a Colorado school shooting in 2006 set up a foundation to offer programs for educators, parents and authorities on preventing violence and dealing with its aftermath.