OK2SAY Student Safety Hotline

OK2SAY is a hotline and student safety initiative that is now available to Michigan students.

OK2SAY enables students to confidentially report potential harm or criminal activities aimed at students, teachers, staff, or other school employees. The program is intended to operate as an early warning system for schools, with a focus on early intervention and prevention. The following are key features of the OK2SAY hotline and reporting system:

• Confidential Reporting: State law protects the confidentiality of the reporter’s identity. The identity of the reporting party will not be disclosed to local law enforcement, school officials, or the person against whom a tip is offered, unless the reporter voluntarily chooses to disclose his or her identity. If the reporter is a minor, the parent or guardian must also consent. However, to address any false reports to the program, prosecutors do have authority to seek a court order to review records when investigating false reports.
• Comprehensive Technology: OK2SAY will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. The program will accept tips by phone, text message, email, mobile application, and website form. The website can be accessed at: www.mi.gov/ok2say. Multimedia attachments can also be included to provide additional information to investigators.
• Coordinated Intervention: Upon receipt of a tip, specially trained OK2SAY operators at the Michigan State Police will address the immediate need, and as necessary, forward the information to the appropriate responding agency or organization. Most tips are expected to go to schools and local law enforcement agencies, but in some instances, tips may go to local community mental health agencies or the Michigan Department of Human Services.
• Accountability & Complete Disposition: To ensure tips are acted upon, agencies receiving tips are asked to submit outcome reports to the Department of Attorney General. An annual report on the program’s impact will detail the types and numbers of tips handled throughout the year.

How to Submit a Tip

Students, teachers, parents, school workers, friends and neighbors can all submit tips, if they are aware of a threat in school. If you are aware of a tip, they can be submitted in the following ways:

• Call: 1-8-555-OK2SAY (1-855-565-2729)
• Text: 652729 (OK2SAY)
• Email: ok2say@mi.gov
• Web: www.mi.gov/ok2say
• OK2SAY Mobile App: Available for download with an iPhone or Android phone.

Source: Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP)