In this featured piece by Campus Security Today, the outlet reports on a new survey revealing significant gaps in emergency readiness and operational security across U.S. K-12 campuses despite the national expansion of Alyssa’s Law. The 2026 Safety and Operational Readiness Report, released by Singlewire Software, highlights a disparity between school administrators and teaching staff in access to safety tools, along with continued reliance on manual processes for guest verification and emergency communication. The article details specific figures on panic button access, visitor management, and staff confidence in emergency response across different school roles.
Key Takeaways
- Nearly 40% of teachers report having no panic button in place at their school, despite the national expansion of Alyssa’s Law.
- Forty-five percent of administrators have access to mounted panic buttons, compared with just 19% of teachers.
- Only 19% of schools use a digital visitor management system that can cross-reference guest identities against security databases, while 17% still rely on pen-and-paper sign-in sheets.
- Security personnel report far higher confidence locating students (69%) than teachers do (35%).
- Only 12% of staff use mobile or desktop apps to request emergency assistance, while 32% rely on radios or walkie-talkies and 31% rely on phone calls.
Original Story
A new report on the state of school safety reveals significant gaps in emergency readiness and operational security across U.S. K-12 campuses. Despite the national expansion of Alyssa’s Law, which mandates silent panic alarms, nearly 40% of teachers report having no panic button in place at their school.
The 2026 Safety and Operational Readiness Report, released by Singlewire Software, highlights a disparity between school administrators and teaching staff. While 45% of administrators have access to mounted panic buttons, only 19% of teachers report the same. Overall, only one in five staff members feels “extremely confident” that help will arrive quickly after a request for assistance.
Staffing shortages have emerged as the primary obstacle to securing school buildings. The number of respondents citing a lack of staff as a major challenge rose from 30% in 2025 to 46% in 2026. While 86% of school staff prioritize front entrance security, only 16% believe their entrances are “completely secure”.