In an effort to be proactive in our response to gang activity in our communities and schools, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (in cooperation with the Anne Arundel County Police Department) is developing a Student Safety Initiative, which will include a gang awareness and education program. This program, entitled "What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You," will be implemented this spring through public service announcements, posters, and school-specific activities. In the fall of the 2010-2011 school year, the program will continue with a series of lessons designed to further develop the themes introduced this year. Students in grades 5-12 will receive classroom instruction about gangs, responsible decision-making, and the supports and resources available to them. These lessons will be age-appropriate and designed to actively engage the students.