SPEAK UP is a national awareness and educational initiative providing students with tools to improve the safety of their schools and communities.
Based on the fact that in 81% of school shootings the attackers tell other students about their plans beforehand,
the SPEAK UP program empowers students to report threats of weapon-related violence.
SPEAK UP features the first-ever, national toll-free hotline for students to report threats of violence at school - 1-866-SPEAK-UP. The hotline is supported by a community-based education initiative featuring fully accredited lesson plans, educational brochures, posters and other materials, as well as a national awareness campaign including powerful public service announcements.
View our Partners and Supporters.
The SPEAK UP campaign includes:
- 1-866-SPEAK-UP Hotline
The first-ever nationwide hotline for students to report weapon-related threats anonymously. Since the hotline launched in October 2002, it has received more than 20,000 calls and has almost certainly prevented numerous tragedies. Professional operators answer calls in English or Spanish and ask a series of questions developed and endorsed by school safety and law enforcement experts. The school and local law enforcement are contacted by phone and fax using comprehensive national directories so the threat can be safely and quickly resolved. View the 1-866-SPEAK-UP hotline protocol. - Education Kit
Includes lesson plans for middle and high school students that meet national curriculum standards. Also features skills-building activity modules, educational brochures, classroom posters and a CD-Rom. The SPEAK UP Education Kit has been implemented in dozens of schools and educational venues across the country. Visit the PAX Store. - Media Campaign
Advertising and PR featuring a powerful national media campaign called "Signs," communicating that students can truly help prevent a tragedy by calling PAX's anonymous 1-866-SPEAK UP hotline if they see a "sign" of violence. View the public service announcements. - Events
The SPEAK UP message has been an essential component to countless events across the country, including National Safe Schools Week, in which PAX partners with several regional and national organizations every year to promote school safety.