Security Systems for Schools: The Technology You Need

This article is meant to help school administrators understand the tools available for building out a security system for their campus. We'll cover the methods most commonly in use (and their shortcomings) and introduce a newer class of technology that can help improve your approach to school security.

Most Common Security Systems for Schools

Let's start by reviewing the security systems most commonly used in K-12 schools across the country.

• School Resource Officers (SROs): Many schools have law enforcement officers on campus, helping to maintain school safety.
• Access Control Systems: Badging and other access control systems limit who can enter certain parts of the campus or school grounds.
• Metal Detectors: A widely known option, though relatively few schools use them.
• Security Cameras: Most schools already have security cameras installed on campus.
• Silent Alarms: Silent alarm systems let staff contact law enforcement quietly.

All of these systems have benefits, and each has a pitfall. Most are forms of physical security. Some are purely reactive, meant to reduce response time once an incident has begun. Others depend on a person catching a problem fast enough to prevent it, which is very difficult to do consistently.

Learn how real public schools have implemented VOLT.

What School Security Systems do Laws Require Schools to Have?

The laws governing what kinds of systems schools must have vary widely between states. The most consistent set of requirements comes from Alyssa's Law, legislation named after school shooting victim Alyssa Alhadeff.

Each state can follow its own version of Alyssa's Law, but most share a core set of requirements. Alyssa's Law legislation has passed in several states, including New Jersey, Florida, and New York, and more continue to follow.

The security systems required by the law include:

• Silent panic alarms: Schools must install silent panic alarm systems that are directly linked to local law enforcement.
• Direct communication: These alarms give schools a way to notify law enforcement right away in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
• Quick response: The system aims to reduce response times for law enforcement and emergency services during critical incidents.

New School Security Solutions Support a Proactive Response

A newer class of school security adds video intelligence to the cameras schools already have. Instead of footage that someone reviews after the fact, staff can learn about moments while they are happening.

Key features to look for:

• Works with your existing cameras: VOLT is built to run on the cameras you already have. That helps schools avoid major overhauls and new infrastructure.
• Everyday moments: VOLT is built to notice crowds forming, theft, vandalism, and people in a space at times you set, such as a closed wing after hours. These are the moments school teams deal with every week.
• Weapon detection as the proof point: VOLT detects handguns, long guns, and knives that are visible to the camera.
• A person checks first: Reviewed by a person by default before your team is notified.
• Alerts that reach the right people: Customizable alerts go to the staff you choose, on mobile devices and smartwatches.
• 911 escalation you control: VOLT offers integration with 911, with escalation options the school sets, from automatic notification to notification only after a staff member reviews and approves.
• Your data stays yours: VOLT doesn't share data or AI insights with law enforcement unless the customer requests it, and the customer owns the data.

Case Study: How VOLT Helped Prescott High School Move From Reactive to Proactive

Learn more about how Principal Adam Neely and his administrative team use VOLT alongside existing school cameras, School Resource Officers and a silent alarm system to live out their mission of providing a safe and supportive environment that fosters a comprehensive education for all students so that they may reach their full potential.

"This is the first time where I really have been able to be out ahead of things that are happening. I'm not just using my cameras for investigation, I'm using them for immediate action and response which is pretty special."

- Adam Neely, Principal, Prescott High School

Neely and his staff have a better understanding of activity on their school grounds and can alert security staff to active incidents.

Read the full case study here.

School Security Solutions That Work With What You Have

Learn more about how schools across the country are adding video intelligence to their existing security systems to respond to school safety and campus security events.