TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Idaho’s confidential student threat reporting system, known as “See, Tell, Now!” has received 553 tips so far in 2026, according to Mike Munger, manager of the Idaho School Safety and Security Program within the Office of the State Board of Education.
Munger said 122 of those tips have come in since the start of the 2026-27 school year in September.
Munger said his office conducts vulnerability assessments in schools and looks for trends that could threaten school environments, students, staff safety and the educational process.
He said the office identified a nationwide trend showing that people often had information before tragic events, including incidents of self-harm and harm to others. He said connecting people who had information with people who had the resources to evaluate, assess and respond led to averted acts of violence and lives saved.
Munger said the office used a federal grant to create the program, the state’s confidential reporting tip line. He said the program is designed to connect students, who often know what is happening in their schools, with people who can evaluate and respond to that information.
He said the program has been in place since 2016 and has seen reduced acts of violence and averted acts of self-harm, along with earlier access to resources.
He said the state of Idaho took over funding the program after the federal grant expired, covering the cost of a 24/7 call center, training for call takers and a coordinator who helps schools use the program.
Munger said the number of tips has increased every year.
He said the program is used by 108 school districts and 502 schools in Idaho, serving about 275,000 students. He said it is used heavily by rural and remote school districts because they have fewer other options available.
He said there is no cost to any district, charter school, parent or student.
Tip categories
Munger described three levels of tips the program receives:
- Critical tips pose an immediate threat or likelihood of harm to someone, including the person reporting. Munger said six critical tips have come in so far this school year, which he described as an accelerated rate.
- Urgent tips do not involve an imminent threat but require investigation or stabilizing action.
- Standard tips make up most of the reports and typically involve interpersonal conflict, bullying, suspected drug possession or a perceived unsafe situation.
Munger said the primary point of contact for tips is the local school district and local law enforcement, depending on the type of tip.
How the system works
Munger said the program’s first step is identifying which school a tip concerns so the information can reach people familiar with the situation. He said “See, Tell, Now” is a notification tool, not an investigative tool, and hands information to local school administrators or law enforcement to investigate and determine next steps.
Munger said students can access the system through an app, a website, or by searching “See, Tell, Now.” He said students can provide as much or as little information as they choose, and tips vary in length depending on what a student knows.
Munger said the program’s effectiveness depends on students knowing it exists, and said getting that awareness out to more of the state remains a goal.
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