50-State School Safety Report

By Robert Jordan

School Safety Standards, Guidelines, and Resources in the United States: A Comprehensive 50-State Review. In the wake of recent events, the safety and well-being of students, staff, and visitors in educational environments have become a paramount concern for communities across the United States. This report offers a comprehensive 50-state review of school safety standards, guidelines, and resources each state’s Department of Education provides. The information presented is current as of January 29, 2025, and was compiled through an exhaustive review of each state’s Department of Education website.

School Safety Legislation

Many states have enacted comprehensive school safety legislation recognizing the critical need to protect students and staff. These laws establish a school safety and security framework, outlining requirements and providing guidance for schools and districts. Some notable examples of school safety legislation include:

• Alabama: The School Safety and Student Protection Act mandates the establishment of a school safety council in each district to develop and implement school safety plans, conduct safety drills, and coordinate with law enforcement¹.
• Colorado: The Safe Schools Act requires school districts to adopt and implement safe school, internet safety plans, and child sexual abuse and assault prevention plans. It also mandates the creation of a school response framework for school safety, readiness, and incident management².
• Kentucky: The School Safety and Resiliency Act outlines requirements for school safety coordinators, safety risk assessments, active shooter training, threat assessment teams, and an anonymous reporting tool³.
• Missouri: The Safe Schools Act addresses various aspects of school safety, including school safety plans, emergency drills, reporting requirements, and discipline policies⁴.
• New Hampshire: The School Safety Preparedness Act establishes a school safety resource center, requires schools to develop emergency operations plans, and mandates the creation of a school safety preparedness task force⁵.

These examples illustrate states’ diverse approaches to addressing school safety through legislation. While the specific requirements vary, common themes include developing comprehensive school safety plans, implementing safety drills, and establishing threat assessment protocols.

Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs)

Most states mandate that schools develop and implement comprehensive Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) to address a wide range of potential hazards, including natural disasters, fires, and acts of violence. These plans typically include detailed procedures for:

• Evacuation: EOPs outline procedures for evacuating students and staff from school buildings in response to fires, bomb threats, or other emergencies⁶.
• Lockdown: Lockdown procedures are designed to secure classrooms and buildings in case of an active shooter or other immediate threat within the school⁷.
• Shelter-in-Place: Shelter-in-place procedures protect students and staff from external threats, such as hazardous materials releases or severe weather events⁸.
• Reunification: Reunification plans outline procedures for reuniting students with their parents or guardians following an emergency⁹.

In addition to these core components, EOPs may address specific hazards relevant to the school’s location, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, or floods. States often provide model EOPs and guidance documents to assist schools in developing and implementing their plans.

Safety Drill Requirements

Regular safety drills are crucial to ensure that students and staff know how to respond effectively in an emergency. Most states mandate specific types and frequencies of safety drills, including:

• Fire Drills: Fire drills are typically required monthly to familiarize students and staff with evacuation procedures⁷.
• Lockdown Drills: Lockdown drills are increasingly common, with many states requiring schools to conduct them at least once per semester to practice responses to active shooter situations¹⁰.
• Other Drills: Depending on the location and specific hazards, schools may also be required to conduct drills for tornadoes, earthquakes, or other emergencies⁹.

Some states mandate the involvement of law enforcement or other agencies in safety drills to enhance coordination and preparedness. For example, Illinois requires schools to conduct one severe weather/shelter-in-place drill per year with law enforcement participation⁷.

School Safety Technology

Technology is increasingly vital in school safety, with many states encouraging or requiring technology to enhance security and emergency response. Common examples of school safety technology include:

• Security Cameras: Security cameras are widely used to monitor school buildings and grounds, deter crime, and provide evidence in the event of an incident¹¹.
• Access Control Systems: Access control systems, such as key card entry or visitor management systems, help to restrict access to school buildings and track who is entering and exiting¹².
• Emergency Notification Systems: Emergency notification systems, such as mass notification systems or panic button apps, allow schools to quickly communicate with students, staff, and parents during an emergency¹³.

States may provide guidance and funding to support the adoption and implementation of school safety technology. For example, Massachusetts is considering legislation requiring schools to install silent panic alarms that directly connect with law enforcement¹³.

Mental Health Resources and Support

Recognizing the link between mental health and school safety, many states are increasing their focus on providing mental health resources and support for students. This may include:

• Training: States may offer training for school staff on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed practices¹⁴.
• Programs: States may fund or promote mental health programs in schools, such as school-based mental health services or peer-to-peer support programs¹⁵.
• Funding: States may provide funding to support mental health initiatives in schools, such as hiring mental health professionals or implementing mental health screening programs¹⁶.

For example, Ohio has created a School Wellness Toolkit to assist schools in addressing the mental and behavioral health challenges amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic¹⁶.

Funding for School Safety

States provide funding for school safety through a variety of mechanisms, including:

• Dedicated Funding Streams: Some states have dedicated funding streams for school safety initiatives, such as school safety grants or safety-related line items in the state education budget¹⁷.
• Formula Funding: States may allocate funding for school safety through formula funding mechanisms, such as providing a per-pupil allocation for safety-related expenses¹⁸.
• Competitive Grants: States may offer competitive grants to schools for specific school safety projects, such as security upgrades or mental health programs¹⁹.

The amount of funding available for school safety varies significantly from state to state, and funding limitations can be a challenge for schools seeking to implement comprehensive safety measures.

Training Programs

States offer a variety of training programs to support school safety, including:

• Emergency Response Training: Training school staff on emergency response procedures, such as lockdown drills, evacuation procedures, and first aid³.
• Threat Assessment Training: Training for school staff on threat assessment protocols, including identifying and responding to potential threats of violence²⁰.
• Mental Health Training: Training for school staff on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed practices¹⁶.
• School Resource Officer (SRO) Training: Specialized training for law enforcement officers who serve as SROs in schools¹⁸.

State agencies, such as the Department of Education or Public Safety, often provide these training programs, which may be offered in person or online.

Compliance Frameworks

States use various compliance frameworks to monitor school safety and ensure that schools meet state-level requirements. These frameworks may include:

• Safety Audits: Some states require schools to conduct regular safety audits of their facilities and emergency plans¹⁰.
• Data Reporting: States may require schools to report data on safety-related incidents, such as bullying, violence, or weapons possession⁹.
• Compliance Reviews: State agencies may conduct compliance reviews of school safety plans and procedures to ensure that schools are meeting state-level requirements¹⁶.

These compliance frameworks help to ensure that schools are taking a proactive approach to school safety and are prepared to respond effectively to emergencies.

Partnerships with Third-Party Vendors

Some states partner with third-party vendors to provide school safety resources and services. These partnerships may include:

• Technology Providers: States may partner with technology providers to offer schools access to safety technology, such as emergency notification or visitor management systems²¹.
• Training Providers: States may partner with training providers to offer school staff professional development on school safety topics¹⁷.
• Mental Health Providers: States may partner with mental health providers to offer school-based mental health services or support for students’ mental health needs²².

These partnerships can help to expand the resources and expertise available to schools for school safety.

Synthesis

School safety is a multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach. States across the United States are taking proactive steps to enhance school safety by enacting legislation, providing resources, and offering training and support. While there is significant variation in the specific approaches states take, common themes include developing comprehensive school safety plans, implementing safety drills, and the increasing focus on mental health.

Key insights from the research include:

• Trends in school safety legislation: There is a growing trend toward more comprehensive school safety laws that address a wider range of hazards and include requirements for mental health resources and threat assessment²³.
• Best practices in school safety: Best practices include comprehensive school safety plans, effective safety drills, strong partnerships with law enforcement, and a focus on creating a positive and supportive school climate²⁴.
• Challenges and opportunities in school safety include funding limitations, the need for more mental health resources, and the importance of community involvement. Opportunities include leveraging technology to enhance safety and security and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention programs²⁵.

By learning from best practices, addressing challenges, and leveraging available resources, schools, communities, and state agencies can work together to create safe and supportive learning environments where all students can thrive.

Works Cited

1. School Safety – Office of the Governor of Alabama, accessed January 29, 2025, https://governor.alabama.gov/priorities/education/school-safety/
2. Colorado School Safety: A Legal Manual (updated 2022), accessed January 29, 2025, https://coag.gov/app/uploads/2023/03/2022-AGs-Colorado-School-Safety-A-Legal-Manual.pdf
3. School Safety and Resiliency Act – Kentucky Department of Education, accessed January 29, 2025, https://www.education.ky.gov/school/sdfs/Pages/School-Safety-and-Resiliency-Act-(Senate-Bill,-2019).aspx
4. Safe Schools Act | Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, accessed January 29, 2025, https://dese.mo.gov/governmental-affairs/legislation/safe-schools-act
5. New Hampshire – SchoolSafety.gov, accessed January 29, 2025, https://www.schoolsafety.gov/state-search-tool/new-hampshire
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22. Resources – Arkansas Center for School Safety, accessed January 29, 2025, https://arsafeschools.com/resources-2/
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25. School Safety in New Mexico and the United States: A Landscape Analysis, accessed January 29, 2025, https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/ALESC%20062624%20Item%209%20.2%20-%20School%20Safety%20LESC%20Powerpoint.pdf
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