Schools face increasing pressure to protect students and educators as violent incidents on campuses continue to rise nationwide.
A recent survey found that more than one-third of students felt unsafe at school. The survey also found that while students, parents, educators, and public safety officials reported a range of school safety concerns, the top issue across all groups was the threat of an active shooter or attack.
RELATED: 84% of K-12 Teachers Say School Safety Directly Impacts Student Achievement
And while many states have improved their policies and adopted stronger security technology, fears remain, especially around how schools handle emergencies and delays in law enforcement response.
Advancements in security technology, such as real-time threat detection, surveillance systems, and emergency communication tools, have improved emergency response times and coordination with first responders. However, many institutions struggle to implement these life-saving solutions due to limited budgets and inconsistent funding policies. Without sustainable support, campuses remain vulnerable. Without sustained funding, schools can’t implement the technology needed to keep today’s campuses safe.
Sustainable School Safety Requires More than Reactionary Funding
School safety funding has fluctuated in recent years, often rising in response to high-profile incidents rather than as part of a long-term strategy. Political debates over gun control legislation and shifting policy priorities add to the instability, making it difficult for schools to secure reliable financial support.
As a result, administrators are forced to make difficult decisions, often prioritizing other pressing educational needs over security enhancements. Without consistent funding, schools struggle to implement preventative safety measures that enhance coordination and emergency preparedness among first responders, law enforcement, and school officials.
Grants are a financial lifeline for schools. Federal, state, and private initiatives make it possible for schools to access preventative security tools that might otherwise be out of reach, from access control systems to AI-powered threat detection. However, securing grants requires both awareness and advocacy.
School leaders, policymakers, and communities must work together to advocate for sustained grant funding, ensuring that security improvements are not temporary but part of a long-term strategy for safer campuses. As schools gain a better understanding of mental health challenges students face from elementary school to college, prioritizing safety funding ensures students can learn in an environment they feel safe in.
Advanced Technology Turns Guesswork into Preparedness
School safety efforts have traditionally focused on crisis response rather than prevention. However, investing in modern security technology shifts the focus from a reactive approach to a proactive one. As a result, schools can reduce response times, improve outcomes, and avoid significant costs in the aftermath of emergency incidents.
In the past, first responders often arrived at the scene with minimal information, relying only on vague phone calls to assess what they were walking into. Today, advanced systems provide instant two-way communication between schools and emergency responders. Schools and responders coordinate faster during emergencies, from an active shooter or a hazardous gas leak, and gain a clearer understanding of the situation as it unfolds.
RELATED: How Mobile-Integrated Security Technology is Changing Campus Safety
Additionally, real-time situational awareness tools, such as AI-powered surveillance and automated emergency alerts, allow staff to detect potential threats before they escalate. Enhanced communication between all parties ensures they receive in-the-moment information, reducing response time and improving safety outcomes.
Preparedness Depends on More Than Just Technology
When I first started in public safety, we didn’t have digital tools or electronic locks, just old-school keys and a phone call. If you didn’t have the right key, you were out of luck. And when the call came in, we often had no idea what kind of emergency we were walking into. Security upgrades have significantly improved response times and preparedness, but they can also introduce more complexity. Even the most advanced security solutions fall short if they are too complex for educators and staff to use properly.
Security technology must be intuitive and easy to integrate into existing school systems. Schools should prioritize solutions that require minimal training and technical expertise, without disrupting daily routines. At the same time, proper training and emergency drills are essential. Staff need the confidence and familiarity to quickly use these tools in emergencies.
School Security Starts with Investment and Advocacy
Uncertainty around school safety funding should not stand in the way of protecting students and staff. Grants can help schools adopt modern security solutions that improve emergency response and enhance preparedness and prevention. Schools can maintain a safe learning environment by shifting from crisis response to proactive safety measures, and by prioritizing effective and user-friendly security tools. To make that possible, policymakers and education leaders must work together to advocate for sustained funding and ensure that updated safety remains a top priority in every school across the nation.
Shannon Torres is a retired Police Chief and law enforcement veteran with nearly 30 years of experience in public safety. She is the Customer Success Manager of 911inform, a cloud-based notification and security management platform.
NOTE: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.
