There’s an ongoing need for more stringent safety measures in schools nationwide. Leaders in the Northeast are raising standards with legislation requiring schools to implement and maintain a multilayered school safety plan that incorporates technology such as wearable panic buttons to reduce emergency response time.
Many school districts in the Northeast must comply with state and federal school safety laws by taking proactive steps to keep students safe. This includes adopting Alyssa’s Law and other school safety legislation.
An Overview of Alyssa’s Law
On February 14, 2018, 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff was killed along with 16 other people during a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Alyssa’s parents, Lori and IIan Alhadeff founded Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit organization on a mission to empower students and teachers to create a culture of safety and vigilance.
Alyssa’s parents became strong advocates for school safety reforms, tirelessly raising awareness of the need for tighter campus safety measures. Working with lawmakers, they created Alyssa’s Law. This key legislation requires public K-12 schools to equip buildings with silent panic alarms linked to local law enforcement. The law has been passed in seven states, and many others have proposed it.
In response to Alyssa’s Law, many school districts have adopted wearable panic buttons that reduce response times when incidents occur. Even schools in states that haven’t adopted Alyssa’s Law use wearable panic buttons to adhere to state and federal school safety laws.
At last year’s National Conference on Education, three school superintendents from Kansas and Maine shared how wearable panic buttons positively impacted school safety. Andrew Dollof, superintendent of the Yarmouth School Department in Maine, said that his district explored room-based, app-based, and wearable panic buttons and found that wearable technology was simpler for teachers and staff. Brent Yeager, superintendent of Olathe Public Schools in Kansas, said the district previously used walkie-talkies or phones, often leading to unnecessary disruptions. They’ve since switched to wearable safety badges.
In all instances, school districts experienced rapid response during emergencies and used data from wearable technology to develop more reliable safety protocols.
New Jersey
New Jersey was the first state to sign Alyssa’s Law, which requires K-12 schools to install panic alarms that alert law enforcement during emergencies.
Governor Phil Murphy signed the law on February 6, 2019, stating, “Alyssa’s death is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the need for adequate school security measures. In New Jersey, we will do everything in our power to prevent these tragedies from occurring within our borders.”
Federal school safety laws don’t require the use of panic alert systems. However, school districts in New Jersey must comply with Alyssa’s Law, which states:
- A “panic alarm” is defined as a silent security system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life-threatening or emergency situation requiring a response from law enforcement.
- Each public K-12 school building shall be equipped with at least one panic alarm that’s directly linked to local law enforcement.
- Panic alarms must adhere to nationally recognized industry standards, including those of the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories.
- Panic alarms must be installed by a licensed alarm system installer.
By complying with these guidelines, schools will improve New Jersey’s safety standards and provide students with the educational environment they deserve.
Pennsylvania
Alyssa’s Law was proposed to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2024 with the introduction of Senate Bill 1206 by Senator Art Haywood and Tracy Pennycuick. The bill sought to improve school safety through the use of panic alert systems.
“I am hopeful that Pennsylvania will soon join the growing list of states that have enacted this common-sense and lifesaving measure,” said Senator Haywood.
Requirements of the bill include:
- Each public school building in this Commonwealth must be equipped with a panic alert system for use in a school security emergency, including, but not limited to, a non-fire evacuation, lockdown or active shooter situation.
- The panic alert must be directly linked to the local law enforcement agencies designated as first responders to the school’s campus and must immediately transmit a signal or message to those authorities on activation.
Although SB1206 has not yet passed, Pennsylvania schools have already begun to integrate panic alert systems to support a safer environment for students and staff.
Maryland
Maryland House Bill (HB) 0472 was passed on March 29, 2024. This legislation established the School Mapping Data Program, which provides funding so local school systems can produce digital mapping data for each public and public charter school. This technology assists first responders during emergencies and helps reduce response time.
Digital mapping technology allows schools to create a map of the building so administrators and emergency responders can see the precise location of an incident. School administrators, safety teams, and emergency responders can access the digital maps via desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.
Digital incident mapping also shows the location of safety devices such as fire extinguishers and first aid kits, allowing schools to prepare safety plans that reduce emergency response time when an incident occurs.
HB 0472 defines minimum requirements for Maryland schools using digital mapping. Data provided must:
- Be in an electronic or digital format to assist first responders.
- Be verified for accuracy by a walkthrough of the school building and grounds.
- Be in a printable format if requested or in a digital file format that can be integrated into interactive mobile platforms.
- Contain site-specific labeling that matches the school grounds and structure of the building.
- Be compatible with software used by the school and safety agencies without requiring additional software.
- Be overlaid on current aerial imagery.
- Be oriented true north.
- Be overlaid with gridded XY coordinates.
School districts can apply for funding through the Maryland School Safety Grant Program.
Washington, D.C.
While Washington, DC, hasn’t yet passed Alyssa’s Law, federal school safety laws like the Luke and Alex School Safety Act of 2021 have been enacted to increase school safety measures.
Another piece of legislation has recently been introduced in Washington, D.C. Bill 25-234 would require the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to establish guidelines for reviewing and enhancing school safety plans.
The School Safety Enhancement Committee, which includes representatives and experts from city education and public safety agencies, has provided recommendations for establishing a real-time alert system. These include:
- Expanding applications to allow for two-way communication between schools and public safety personnel.
- Including status updates during active crisis situations.
These safety protocols will help Washington, D.C. schools respond faster to emergencies and keep parents updated when major incidents occur.
New York
Governor Kathy Hochul signed Alyssa’s Law in June 2022, requiring silent panic alarms in school safety plans.
“I am proud of the work we have done to pass a nation-leading bill package to crack down on the scourge of gun violence, but this is an ongoing fight, and we cannot stop there,” said Governor Hochul.
A few years before Alyssa’s Law was passed in New York, the state enacted the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act (SAVE). This legislation requires school districts to develop and maintain safety plans and recommends using data collection and analysis when developing protocols. This is a great example of New York’s high safety standards and proactive approach to protecting students.
CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ Supports School Safety Legislation Compliance in the Northeast
CENTEGIX® helps school districts in the Northeast comply with state and federal school safety laws. Our Safety Platform facilitates rapid incident response by integrating several components that lay the foundation for a layered safety plan.
CENTEGIX CrisisAlert™
This wearable panic badge allows school staff to discreetly request help in an emergency. It operates on private LoRaWAN and Bluetooth networks and doesn’t require Wi-Fi, so it’s always available and works anywhere on school campuses. CrisisAlert aligns with the safety requirements defined by Alyssa’s Law.
CENTEGIX Safety Blueprint™
This dynamic digital mapping solution allows school administrators and local emergency responders to see the precise location of an incident. Safety Blueprint also shows the location of safety equipment such as first aid kits and fire alarms. Schools in Maryland can implement Safety Blueprint to comply with HB 0472.
CENTEGIX Visitor Management
Schools host all types of guests, from parents to contractors. CENTEGIX Visitor Management facilitates visitor check-ins and screens guests for sex offenses and custody issues. Enhanced Visitor Management uses technology to pinpoint the specific location of every guest in real time.
Incident Activated Video
The more information first responders have, the better prepared they are when they arrive. Incident Activated Video increases situational awareness of the incident so dispatchers and responders can identify potential hazards and coordinate for the most effective response.
Comply With State and Federal School Safety Laws
All schools are responsible for providing a safe environment for students. CENTEGIX supports compliance with Alyssa’s Law and other state and federal school safety laws in the Northeast.
Learn more about how our solutions make rapid response possible during school emergencies when every second matters.™
