In this featured piece by Security Sales & Integration, the outlet reports on a new study from Singlewire Software revealing a critical disconnect between school safety priorities and daily campus reality. The 2026 State of Safety & Operational Readiness in K-12 Schools report, a follow-up to Singlewire’s inaugural 2025 School Entrance study, gathered responses from more than 500 school staff members across the United States. Terry Swanson, president and CEO of Singlewire Software, said security vulnerabilities aren’t limited to the front door but are rooted in operational gaps across the entire campus. The article details a significant equipment gap between school safety goals and the tools available to frontline teachers, along with rising staffing shortages that are straining existing safety protocols.
Key Takeaways
- “Lack of staff” jumped from 30% of respondents in 2025 to 46% in 2026, making it the top-cited security challenge for schools.
- Thirty-eight percent of teachers have no panic button at all, and only 10% have access to a wearable solution.
- While 79% of security staff believe school entrances are secure, only 55% of teachers agree, reflecting a sharp perception gap between roles.
- More than 50% of respondents identify parking lots and outdoor areas as their school’s most vulnerable zones.
- Sixty-three percent of respondents experience dismissal-related issues requiring staff intervention at least monthly, and nearly 75% of schools still use analog methods to excuse students from class.
Original Story
Singlewire Software recently released the findings of its new report, “2026 State of Safety & Operational Readiness in K-12 Schools.”
Following up on its inaugural 2025 School Entrance study, this year’s research captured responses from more than 500 school staff members across the United States, revealing “a critical disconnect between school safety priorities and the daily reality of campus security,” according to the company announcement.
“Prioritizing school safety means recognizing that security vulnerabilities aren’t limited to the front door—they are rooted in operational gaps across the entire campus,” says Terry Swanson, president and CEO of Singlewire Software, in the announcement.
“With staff shortages rising and critical disparities emerging, reactive measures are no longer sufficient,” he says. “Schools have the opportunity to empower every staff member, streamline daily accountability processes and ensure that real-time help is accessible wherever and whenever an emergency arises.”