Attorney General Luther Strange is inviting public and private schools throughout the state to submit applications for the 2015 Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Awards of Excellence. The program was reinstituted by Attorney General Strange in 2013 with a new emphasis on encouraging technological advances to deal with the challenges experienced by today’s schools and students. This year, the Attorney General’s Office will honor private school winners from north, central and south Alabama, in addition to the winners from each of the state’s eight public school board districts.

“These awards have previously provided the opportunity to identify and recognize excellence in school safety. In recent years, the judging criteria has placed special emphasis on the use of technology in the safety plan,” said Attorney General Strange. “Based upon this, my office developed a set of Best Practices from schools across the state, which has resulted in widespread implementation of excellent safety standards. My office will once again recognize those schools which have done an exceptional job at providing a safe environment for students in Alabama.”

Applications are being accepted now through Dec. 31. More information about criteria for the awards may be found at the Attorney General’s website at http://www.ago.state.al.us/Update-531.

The nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges.