LGBT Awareness Update For School Resource Officers

In today’s complex school environments, School Resource Officers are vital for maintaining safety and fostering a positive campus climate. This course provides essential training to equip middle and high school level law enforcement school resource officers with the skills to effectively support LGBTQ+ students

This course begins by exploring the key developmental stages related to sexual orientation and gender identity in adolescents. This foundational knowledge allows officers to better understand and connect with LGBTQ+ youth. Participants will learn to recognize the critical warning signs of self-harm and suicide risk in students, positioning them as key first responders in preventing tragedy. The training then provides a critical legal framework for differentiating between school bullying and bias-motivated hate crimes, ensuring officers can identify, document, and respond appropriately when a criminal threshold is met.

The course offers practical, actionable strategies for building rapport and trust with LGBTQ+ students, transforming the SRO’s role from enforcer to a trusted, approachable resource.

The course includes 4 modules that are designed to address the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs).

  • Identify the developmental stages of sexual orientation and gender identity in middle and high school students. (SLO 1)
  • Identify signs of self-harm and risks of suicide in middle and high school students. (SLO 2)
  • Explain how acts of bullying can also be a hate crime. (SLO 3)
  • Identify ways a school resource officer can engage with LGBTQ+ identified students in order to build trust. (SLO 4)

This course is intended to be an update for school resource officers and does not replace the basic school resource officer course or an LGBT awareness for law enforcement course.  We recommend participants complete an LGBT Awareness For Law Enforcement course before attempting this one.

For California members of law enforcement, California Penal Code section 13519.41 and California Education Code section 218 require LGBT awareness training.  The LGBT Awareness For California Law Enforcement and this course together meet these training requirements.

Most people can complete this training within 3 hours. This course is offered free of charge to any member of law enforcement.  Completion of the course requires passing the course quiz with a score of 80% or better.  Course completion certificates are available for $20.

Click Here To Register And Begin Training