Michigan State Police and partners marked the tenth anniversary of the OK2Say student safety tipline on Monday.
Modeled after a program in Colorado, OK2Say was launched in 2014 as a way for students in Michigan to report potentially dangerous situations in their schools anonymously. Program administrator Mary Drew tells us since then, the tipline has received nearly 60,000 tips.
“Every year we’ve seen the program grow,” Drew said. “Last year in 2023, we had almost 10,000 tips. Right now in 2024, our tips are up about 21%.”
Drew says the most common method used by students to submit tips is text message, followed by the OK2Say app, and then its website. When a student reports something, the information is forwarded on to local police and the school administration.
Drew says OK2Say is promoted in schools by the state each year, and the more that kids know about it, the more it gets used.
“If you’re feeling unsafe or something doesn’t seem right, please trust that gut and talk to a trusted adult. If a trusted adult isn’t available for whatever reason, then there is always the OK2Say program.”
Drew says when students know that the safety of their schools is everyone’s responsibility, they take it seriously.
The most common tips received by OK2Say are about suicide, bullying, drugs and alcohol, mental health issues, and school attacks.
Tips can be submitted to OK2Say by texting “OK2Say,” calling 8-555-OK2Say, or at Michigan.gov/OK2Say.
