EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
When it comes to K-12 school safety, parents and educators alike have both confidence and concerns.
According to an Education Week analysis, there were 23 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths in the first six months of 2023. Reports also indicate that nearly one-third of middle schoolers have been bullied. And not surprisingly, student mental health issues are among the top concerns that both teachers and parents have when it comes to school safety. To help schools prepare for the 2023-24 school year, Motorola Solutions surveyed 1,000 K-12 parents and 1,000 K-12 educators about safety concerns, as well as their schools’ emergency planning methods, communication, technologies and training protocols. The research revealed that 67% of both parents and teachers are much more concerned about school safety now than they were five years ago. That said, 80% of teachers and 73% of parents are confident that their schools’ emergency response plans are effective. Parents list bullying/cyberbullying (67%), active shooters (56%) and student mental health (55%) as their top safety concerns, whereas teachers are most apprehensive about student mental health issues (72%), adequate staff to keep their schools safe (56%), bullying/ cyberbullying and faculty/staff mental health issues (both 55%). These survey insights reflect the perceptions of those closest to student safety and can help to inform forward-thinking conversations about emergency preparedness, response and notification protocols so that students, educators and staff are best protected from harm and parents can feel more at ease sending their children off to school.
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