Milestone demonstrates the power of “Know the Signs” prevention as new polling finds 96% of parents believe students and educators should be trained to recognize and report warning signs.
NEWTOWN, CT – Sandy Hook Promise today announced that its Say Something Anonymous Reporting System and prevention programs have helped prevent at least 20 planned school shootings since 2018, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s work to end school shootings.
The 20th verified intervention took place recently in Arkansas, where an anonymous tip helped stop a potential school shooting before it could become another tragic headline.
20 averted shootings is more than a number: it represents families saved from unspeakable grief, students who returned safely to their classrooms, and communities that did not have to experience the lasting trauma of school violence.
The milestone comes as new data shows overwhelming parent support for prevention-focused safety measures. According to a survey of 1,003 U.S. adults conducted by Marist Poll from Aug 13-17, 2026, 96% of parents say training students, teachers, and staff to recognize and report warning signs is effective.
As students head back to school, the milestone serves as a timely reminder that prevention is possible.
The start of a new school year is often a period of transition, with students adjusting to new teachers, schedules, social dynamics and, in some cases, entirely new schools. These changes can bring added stress and emotional challenges at a time when families are already concerned about school safety.
Parents are grappling with dual concerns: 69% worry that warning signs could be missed, while another 69% are concerned about the emotional and mental health toll that gun violence may have on their child.
In the recent Arkansas case, an anonymous tip submitted through the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System, combined with swift action by law enforcement, enabled an intervention before a potential tragedy could occur. The incident underscores the critical role that students, educators, and community members play in recognizing warning signs and speaking up when they see concerning behavior.
As Sandy Hook Promise marks its 20th verified prevented planned school shooting, the achievement reinforces an urgent message: school shootings are not inevitable. Violence can be prevented when warning signs are recognized, reported, and addressed before a crisis unfolds.
“20 averted school shootings is a testament to the power of people who recognize something is wrong and have the courage to say something,” said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise. “When one of those schools is yours, 20 isn’t just a number. It means your child came home that day. They may have complained about homework, talked about soccer practice or who they sat with at lunch, but they go to have an ordinary day. That is what prevention looks like. When people know the warning signs, speak up and have systems ready to listen and act, violence can be stopped before lives are taken. “
Mark Barden, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise, added: “As kids head back to school, we must equip them with the tools to recognize warning signs and the courage to say something – and we must be ready to listen and act. Preventing 20 planned shootings demonstrates that prevention works. When we invest in training, relationships, and a culture where people choose to be upstanders instead of bystanders, we can intervene before a crisis becomes a tragedy. But our job isn’t done until every school, every community, has access to these life-saving resources and prevention is embedded in how we approach school safety. We need parents, educators, and leaders to bring these programs to communities across the country.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, the warning signs of violence, and information about life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
Assets for members of the media, including photos, B-roll, and other materials, are available online in the Sandy Hook Promise Newsroom.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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