In this featured piece by Security Management, the outlet reports on a 2026 survey from Singlewire Software finding that while 86% of U.S. K-12 school staff call front-entrance security a top or high priority, more than a third say their entrances are only somewhat, minimally, or not at all secure. The survey gathered responses from 500 school faculty, staff, and administrators, and found staffing shortages are now the most cited reason for insecure entrances. The article also details gaps in visitor verification methods, outdoor and parking lot vulnerabilities, and inconsistent processes for coordinating student dismissal.
Key Takeaways
- Eighty-six percent of K-12 school staff call front-entrance security a top or high priority, yet 36% describe their entrances as only somewhat, minimally, or not at all secure.
- Lack of staff is the most cited reason for insecure entrances, cited by 46% of respondents, up from 30% in the 2025 version of the survey.
- Teachers were less likely to rate school entrances as completely or very secure (55%) compared with security staff (79%) and administrators or facilities personnel (64%).
- More than 50% of respondents identified outdoor areas and parking lots as the least secure areas of their school.
- Only 14% of schools use a digital solution to coordinate student release and verify pickup, and 63% of respondents experience dismissal-related issues requiring staff intervention at least monthly.
Original Story
While 86 percent of U.S. K-12 school staff say securing the school building’s front entrance is a top or high priority, 36 percent said their entrances are only somewhat, minimally, or not at all secure, according to a 2026 survey by Singlewire Software, Safety and Operational Readiness Report for K-12 Schools.
The survey of 500 school faculty, staff, and administrators found the most cited reason for insecure entrances is a lack of staff—46 percent, compared to 30 percent in the 2025 version of the survey. Other reasons included an inability to restrict access to a single point of entry (32 percent), a school community not understanding check-in procedures (31 percent), and having no method in place to verify guest identities (30 percent).
Teachers were less likely to rate school entrances as completely or very secure (55 percent) versus security staff (79 percent) and administrators or facilities personnel (64 percent).