Schools are navigating a rapidly changing risk landscape in 2026. Christine West, Chief Underwriting Officer for Education at CM Regent, shares her perspective on the challenges facing K–12 and higher education institutions, the trends shaping the year ahead, and how…
Key Takeaways: Outdoor areas of a school that are available for public use should have appropriate signs to warn visitors of potential risks. Playground signs, such as those that specify an age group for particular pieces of equipment or specific…
Key takeaways: If schools want to offer trap shooting or archery to students, they should develop a written policy that outlines all the rules. The National Archery in the School Program (NASP) offers clear guidance on how schools can introduce…
In today’s school environment, risks evolve quickly — whether related to safety procedures, facilities, student activities or regulatory requirements. That’s why direct collaboration with our Risk Control team is such an important part of protecting school communities. For both brokers…
Key takeaways: CM Regent offers several online resources to help schools manage the many kinds of inspections they need to conduct. While several kinds of inspections only need to take place annually, staff members should regularly inspect school sidewalks for…
What fun it could be for students to burst out of the school building and head straight for the playground equipment during the winter to participate in challenging play activity. However, allowing playground equipment use during winter may not be…
Key takeaways: For any special school event, it’s essential to have parents or guardians sign permission slips, approved by the school’s attorney. Cardboard boat races (such as those for physics students) are much safer if they take place in an…
Key takeaways: All bodies of water (including retention ponds) located near schools pose significant drowning risks. Administrators need to install fences to deter students from wandering nearby. Pond fences should be constructed to discourage climbing and be at least 15…
Key takeaways: If schools are considering banning cell phones in classrooms and other spaces, they should consider potential liability risks, such as phones becoming damaged or lost. The DONUT framework—Development, Opportunity, Notice, Uniformity and Timeliness—can help schools as they create…
Agribusiness is a continually growing field, and some schools want to give their students hands-on experience caring for animals. Several curricula are available to guide students through the raising and care of livestock. Before a school adopts such a program,…