As 2026 brings new safety mandates to the Mid-Atlantic, school administrators in West Virginia and Virginia are facing a critical question: Is my district compliant with the new Alyssa’s Law requirements?
While both states aim to improve emergency response times through silent panic alarms, the technical requirements differ. Whether you are mandated to provide wearable panic button technology or looking to upgrade existing systems, Singlewire Software provides the infrastructure to meet these laws today.
West Virginia: The Wearable Mandate
Under West Virginia HB 4798, the state has moved toward a specific requirement: wearable panic alert devices for all school facility personnel. Critically, the law requires that these devices be capable of initiating a campus-wide lockdown and notifying local 911.
The InformaCast Wearable Alert Badge is purpose-built for this exact scenario. It isn’t just a button; it is designed to ensure no one is left unprotected. By equipping every teacher and staff member with a badge, West Virginia schools can meet the mandate with these core features:
- Two-Tier Alerting: Minimize false alarms and distinguish between daily issues and major emergencies. Staff can use a 3-button press for localized incidents (such as a medical issue or a hallway fight) or a 6-button press for high-priority emergencies, such as a campus-wide lockdown.
- Location Precision: Using BLE (Bluetooth Low-Energy) beacons and LoRaWAN Gateways, the system provides room-level and floor-level accuracy. First responders are provided with the exact information on where help is needed.
- Reach the Right People: Once activated, the badge can initiate scenarios that send intrusive text, audio, and visual messages to internal teams and local dispatchers in seconds. These scenarios can be customized by audience and device, ensuring the right message reaches the right audience at the right time.
- Real-Time Insights: Administrators can leverage a cloud-based dashboard to monitor device health, battery life (up to 1 year of rechargeable), and badge history, ensuring the system is always mission-ready.
- Direct 911 Integration: Automatically notifies local 911 dispatch while simultaneously triggering visual and audio alerts across the entire campus.
Virginia: Flexible Solutions for Enhanced Safety
Virginia HB 592 (signed April 2026) permits school boards to provide wearable systems but allows greater flexibility in the deployment of silent panic alarms. This means districts can choose to integrate panic buttons into their existing technology or opt for a full rollout of wearables.
For Virginia districts, the InformaCast platform offers a “meet you where you are” approach. You can achieve compliance by:
- Leveraging Existing Hardware: Turn your IP desk phones, desktop computers (via keyboard shortcuts), and mobile phones into silent panic buttons.
- Adding Physical Buttons: Install PoE-powered buttons under desks or in discreet locations.
- Hybrid Wearables: You can add the Wearable Alert Badge to your current setup for staff who are frequently on the move.
InformaCast serves as a central hub for school safety, allowing staff to instantly initiate lockdowns and manage evacuations from a single platform. During an active threat, the system broadcasts intrusive shelter-in-place notifications and can even integrate with access control systems to automatically lock doors. Once the scene is secure, InformaCast facilitates a quick, orderly evacuation by delivering real-time instructions to ensure everyone exits the building safely.
Ready to see how InformaCast can bring your school into compliance with Alyssa’s Law? Request a Personalized Demo Today
Alyssa’s Law FAQ: West Virginia & Virginia (2026)
Q: What are the specific requirements for Alyssa’s Law in West Virginia (HB 4798)?
A: West Virginia law requires each county board to provide wearable panic alert devices to all school facility personnel. These devices must be able to directly contact 9-1-1 and initiate a campus-wide lockdown. The InformaCast Wearable Alert Badge from Singlewire Software meets these specific West Virginia requirements by providing room-level location data and dual-alerting capabilities for both medical assists and lockdowns.
Q: Is a wearable panic button required in Virginia under HB 592?
A: In Virginia, the law is permissive, meaning school boards are permitted—but not strictly mandated—to provide wearable panic alarm systems. However, the system must still provide a silent alarm capability that reaches first responders. InformaCast allows Virginia schools to choose between wearables, desktop shortcuts, or mobile apps to meet these standards.
Q: Does Alyssa’s Law require a direct connection to 911?
A: Yes. Both the West Virginia and Virginia versions of the law emphasize that the panic alarm must immediately alert local law enforcement or a public safety answering point (PSAP). InformaCast automates this by sending the alert to dispatchers while simultaneously notifying internal school security.
Q: Can InformaCast initiate a school lockdown automatically?
A: Absolutely. InformaCast can be configured so that a specific button press on a wearable badge or desktop app initiates a campus-wide lockdown. This includes sending intrusive audio/visual alerts and, in many cases, integrating with access control systems to automatically lock doors.
Q: What is the difference between a mobile app panic button and a wearable badge?
A: Mobile apps require a user to unlock their phone and navigate to an app, which can be difficult in a high-stress situation. A wearable badge, like the one offered by Singlewire, is always accessible and can be activated discreetly without looking at a screen. West Virginia’s mandate specifically prioritizes the wearable form factor for this reason.
Q: How does InformaCast provide room-level location accuracy for first responders?
A: When a Wearable Alert Badge is activated, it communicates with Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) beacons placed throughout the school. This allows InformaCast to provide a digital map to first responders showing exactly which floor and room the alert originated from.
Q: Can we use our existing IP phones as panic buttons for Alyssa’s Law?
A: Yes. In states like Virginia where the technology requirements are flexible, InformaCast can turn your existing IP desk phones into silent panic buttons using “soft keys.” This allows you to comply with the law without necessarily purchasing new hardware for every room.
Q: Is funding available for Alyssa’s Law compliance in West Virginia?
A: Yes, HB 4798 established the “Alyssa Alhadeff School Safety Fund.” Implementation of the wearable devices is contingent upon the availability of these funds. InformaCast is a qualified solution for many state and federal school safety grants.
Q: Can one panic button distinguish between a medical emergency and an active shooter?
A: Yes. The InformaCast Wearable Alert Badge uses a two-tier alerting system. Three presses can signal a localized medical emergency, while six presses can initiate a full-scale lockdown, ensuring the response matches the threat level.
Q: How does InformaCast help manage evacuations after a lockdown?
A: Once an incident is resolved, InformaCast can be used to broadcast real-time, intrusive instructions for an orderly evacuation. It transitions from a “silent” alarm tool to a mass notification system, ensuring everyone exits the building safely and follows proper protocols.