Safe2Tell report shows students speaking up as new school year begins
Sept. 8, 2026 (DENVER) – As Colorado students returned to classrooms for the new school year, Safe2Tell received 1,508 reports in August, helping schools and law enforcement respond to concerns ranging from threats of violence to the misuse of artificial intelligence to target a student.
The August total represents a 155% increase from July 2026, consistent with typical seasonal patterns as students return to school.
Key findings from the August 2026 Safe2Tell report
- The most frequently reported concerns were school safety (20.7%), mental health (16.1%), bullying (14.1%), and substance use (9.2%).
- Reports in the “other” category accounted for 13.3% of submissions and primarily involved individuals seeking information about how to use Safe2Tell or access program services, an expected trend as communities returned for the new school year.
- 98.1% of reports were valid, with false reports historically low at 1.2%. Misuse reports, which are submitted with non-malicious intent but fall outside the scope of Safe2Tell, accounted for 0.7%.
“Students are often the first to know when a friend or classmate is struggling or when there may be a threat to someone’s safety,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser. “As a new school year begins, I encourage students to look out for one another and remember that one report can make a real difference in getting someone the support they need or preventing a situation from becoming more serious.”
In one August report, a person shared concerns about a student who said they wanted to harm and sexually assault another student and threatened to harm themself if the person making the report disclosed the comments. A school resource officer spoke with the student, who admitted making the statements but said they were a joke. The student received education on appropriate communication, their parent was contacted, school disciplinary action was taken, and a threat assessment was completed.
In another report, a person shared that a student created an explicit AI-generated image of a peer and distributed it to classmates. School administrators and a school resource officer spoke with the student, contacted their parent, and took disciplinary action.
“Students don’t have to decide on their own whether a concern is serious enough to report,” said Safe2Tell Director Stacey Scardino. “Safe2Tell is anonymous and available 24/7, so if something doesn’t feel right or makes you concerned about your safety or someone else’s, trust your instincts and speak up.”
A full breakdown of all categorical data is available in the Safe2Tell August 2026 Monthly Report (PDF). Definitions for each category can be found in the Safe2Tell Report Categorization Guide (PDF).
About Safe2Tell
Safe2Tell is Colorado’s anonymous reporting system for concerns about the safety and well-being of students. Safe2Tell is not an emergency response unit or a mental health counseling provider. Instead, it serves as an information pathway for distributing anonymous reports to local law enforcement and school officials, as required by state law.
How to submit a report
Reports can be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-877-542-SAFE (7233), visiting Safe2Tell.org, texting S2TCO to 738477, or using the Safe2Tell mobile app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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Media Contact:
Mallory Boyce
Communications Specialist
720-219-1898 (cell)
Mallory.Boyce@coag.gov