School threats: Factors that can help decide a response

Schools receive threats via phone calls and messages, paper notes, messages written on school property, emails, social media and other forms.

Sometimes the method of delivery helps officials determine who's responsible for the threat and whether real harm might be imminent because they can, for example, trace a Facebook post to a particular account or assess whether a call came from out of state.

Learning the responsible party's motive, such as getting a class canceled or hurting someone who has wronged them, and information about whether the person would actually have the means and ability to follow through on a threat also can help determine its legitimacy.