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”.