A record-breaking number of reports were submitted to Colorado’s anonymous reporting program Safe2Tell during the 2023-2024 school year.

According to the annual report released Tuesday by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, 28,218 reports were submitted in the past 12 months, with suicide, bullying, drugs, and school threats leading the list of concerns.

It also marks a 27% increase over last year’s 22,246 total, which was the highest number recorded since the program’s inception in 2004.

Safe2Tell allows all Colorado youth and community members to report safety concerns for themselves or others anonymously. The program does not directly intervene in each credible report, but rather facilitates communication between those giving the report and local teams, which may include schools, law enforcement and mental health professionals.

The local multidisciplinary teams also are responsible for entering the outcome of each response into the Safe2Tell database which can include anything from notifying the students’ parents, to conducting an investigation, to making an arrest. 

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The annual report was released along with the October 2024 report which saw a 26% decrease in volume at 3,492, compared to a record-breaking September. The most common issues reported last month were suicide, bullying and school safety concerns for staff.

“The rise in reports reflects both the increasing challenges young people are facing and the commitment of Safe2Tell’s trainers and ambassadors in building awareness across Colorado,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a press release.

“Today’s students need support more than ever, and I am thankful Safe2Tell offers a trusted, accessible platform where they can voice their concerns and help make our schools safer for everyone.”

This year’s report also marks the first time that “school complaints” came in as the most-reported category in Safe2Tell’s history. These are classified in the report as, “a broad spectrum of concerns about school policy, staff behavior, building/facility concerns, inappropriate relationships, and others.”

Since a significant portion of these reports weren’t safety related, Safe2Tell replaced this categorization for the 2024-25 school year with three “school safety” subcategories: staff, policy and facility. 

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“These categories sharpen our focus on specific safety concerns, empowering school districts and law enforcement to better support children and communities across Colorado,” said Safe2Tell Director Stacey Jenkins in the release. “This approach ultimately creates safer schools, where students feel their concerns are understood and appropriately addressed.”

Of the reports the program received during the last school year, only 3.7% were false. The report defined false reports as being submitted to harm, injure, or bully another person.

The free-to-use program has grown over the years to include more options for people to anonymously make reports like a text short code in addition to the phone number (1-877-542-7233), website (Safe2Tell.org) and mobile app.

The program has also increased public awareness initiatives and administered training sessions for students and staff. In 2023, Senate Bill 23-070 created a requirement for Safe2Tell to hold annual trainings for school resource officers.

Recommendations listed in the report include further increasing training opportunities for SROs, school staff and students along with greater data gathering and review for more effective reporting. 

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“We are pleased that our school communities are taking advantage of this life-saving platform and reporting through Safe2Tell, and as report volumes continue to rise, we encourage students “if they see something harmful, do something helpful,” Jenkins said. 

The full report can be viewed below.

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Anyone struggling with their mental health can also contact Colorado Crisis Services by calling 1-844-493-8255 or texting “TALK” to 38255 for free, confidential, and immediate support.