THE STATE OF SCHOOL SAFETY TECHNOLOGY Specifically, parents say visitor management protocols (59%) and video security equipment (57%) are used to help improve safety at their child’s school. They also noted that alert notifications (58%), two-way radios (45%) and public address systems (41%) are utilized when emergencies occur. Teachers report that video security equipment is used to monitor events in and around their schools, and visitor management protocols are in place to screen visitors (both 83%). Another day-to-day preventative measure used is access control equipment that may require a key card or badge (74%). During emergencies, educators say that notifications are sent via phone, text and/or email to parents (74%). What technologies would most move the needle for parents when it comes to school safety? Parents rank panic button apps that allow teachers/staff to directly and swiftly notify school authorities and 9-1-1 (46%), concealed weapons detection technology (45%) and metal detectors (39%) at the top of their lists. Interestingly, more than half of parents (54%) say that they have not seen new safety technologies implemented in their children’s schools, whereas 71% of teachers say that their school has implemented new safety technology in the last two years. This disparity presents an opportunity for schools to periodically communicate with parents about the safety solutions they’re implementing to reduce risk or expedite response.
Despite the fact that 54% of parents say that they have not seen new school safety technologies implemented in their children’s schools, 71% of teachers say their schools have deployed new solutions within the last two years. This disparity signifies that there is an opportunity for school leaders to regularly communicate to parents and teachers about school safety processes and the tech tools being used to reduce risk or expedite response.
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