Violence in schools is a constant talking point in America but the volume amplified in the years that followed 2020. Crime spiked nationwide during COVID-19 and waves of new AI-powered technology gained attention. Both drew intense focus on the need to protect students when they returned to schools after months of learning remotely during the height of the pandemic.
Yet, despite the availability of new technology with enormous potential to save lives, many American schools are deeply frustrated. K-12 schools crave greater security measures but the majority don’t have the budget to do so. Giving security officers the tools to keep thousands of students safe is more complex than installing new security products.
A world-class security response demands cutting-edge technology, integrated systems and well-trained guards – directed by certified security experts. Anything less invites a disjointed system that throws obstacles in security guards’ way when they are under pressure to make life-saving decisions.
With strained budgets, K-12 schools rely heavily on grants to equip buildings with the security upgrades they need. These grants are driving security upgrades to keep students and teachers feeling safe on campus.
Federal grants provide opportunities to bolster school security
K-12 schools can apply for grants to fund security equipment, violence prevention, crisis recovery and mental health support.
- COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP): A police-led program to help reduce violence through training and technology.
- STOP School Violence Program: Provides funding to prevent and reduce K-12 school violence via training, threat assessment and technology.
- School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV): A short-term service to help people recover from violent and traumatic events that have disrupted learning.
- Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP): A program that aims to prevent, protect, respond and recover from terrorism and catastrophic events.
- State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program: To address cybersecurity risks and IT systems.
- E-Rate Program: Helping schools and libraries access affordable, high-speed internet services.
State grant opportunities to bolster school security
- Stronger Connections Grant (SCG): To create programs that promote safer school environments.
- Project Prevent Grant Program: For local educational agencies to prevent and mitigate the impact of community violence.
Traditional school security leaves gaps in threat detection
Thousands of schools in the US rely on traditional cameras alone. Security guards do their best to work around their flaws: grainy footage, poor integration and many blind spots don’t provide the clarity or certainty that guards demand. It puts a lot of pressure on officers to watch footage continuously to spot them, as traditional cameras do not identify threats.
The constant checking of camera screens comes with several challenges as schools are loud and crowded environments with multiple entry points. Attention spans are pulled in too many directions to have a clear understanding of what’s happening on screen throughout the day. Some threats are immediately obvious but others are difficult to spot in real-time.
School security threats that are hard to detect:
- Threatening behaviour
- Arguments
- Concealed weapons
- Drug deals
- Bullying (often mistaken for play fighting)
- Known and dangerous people, objects and vehicles of concern
- Loitering.
Security guards cannot be expected to detect every security threat using traditional camera systems alone. They need support to detect threats, assess them in real-time, action the correct security response and compile comprehensive footage of incidents.
Schools urgently need grants because new security technology helps close the gaps in threat detection.
The innovative technology being installed in K-12 schools across America
New advancements in AI, machine learning and predictive analytics are built into many of today’s cutting-edge security products. Working together, they ease the near-impossible task of security guards detecting multiple types of threats occurring in loud and complex environments.
Modern school security systems include:
- AI-powered security cameras: Modern school cameras help guards detect multiple types of potential threats in seconds. AI and predictive analytics spot anomalies – in the loudest and most crowded environments – for security guards to review. Guards know within seconds whether it’s a security threat that requires action or a false alarm to be dismissed.
- Smart sensors: Multiple types of security threats can be detected by cutting-edge sensor technology. Gunshots, shouting, vaping/smoking and poor air quality can be detected.
- Digital threat detection: AI software can detect violent/threatening language in school communication emails. Staff will be alerted and can take action if they believe someone is in danger.
- Panic alarms and alarms: There’s a growing trend of wearable panic buttons that students and teachers can activate if they are in danger.
- Adaptable classrooms: School classrooms are seeing more adaptive fixtures to prepare for dangerous scenarios. Whiteboards are doubling up as safe rooms and smart doors autolock with slide window covers to isolate intruders when alarms are raised.
A world-class security response relies on integrated systems
Security systems need to be in sync to give security guards an informative, real-time view of events. Gaps between systems cause confusion and delays that could result in devastating consequences.
For example, a security guard sees that an alarm has been raised at two entry points. Both need to be assessed. The guard must switch between systems to check both locations’ cameras. Then, they would need to locate the threats’ location after breaking in. It could take minutes for guards to understand if it’s a serious threat or a false alarm. If it is a threat, the response would be far too slow to protect students and staff.
Responding with an integrated system would be much faster and better-informed. An integrated dashboard displays both entry points, combining video and sensor details to give security guards a clear picture of what’s happening. Guards would know what they are dealing with in seconds. They have time to trigger a lockdown, activate alarms and call the police.
Conclusion
America’s K-12 schools need world-class security solutions to mitigate several types of security concerns. Traditional camera systems do little to detect threats, putting the onus on security guards to detect them in complex environments filled with thousands of students. There is too much happening on screen for every threat to be detected early. AI-powered security products, working as part of an integrated system, are proving to be extremely effective at detecting threats. Security guards get more time and greater awareness to make the right decisions under pressure.
There are several state and federal grants that K-12 schools rely on to bolster security to help keep students and staff safe. The types of security tech invested in help security teams mitigate the challenges that come with protecting schools. AI-powered security products working together as part of an integrated system can detect threats in crowded environments, putting security guards in a stronger position to save lives.
