Missouri School Safety Standards

School Safety Legislation & Resources

Understanding the Legislation: Missouri House Bill 3174, Alyssa’s Law

In February 2026, the Missouri House of Representatives introduced HB 3174, a bill requiring that “school districts and charter schools implement a wearable panic alert system.”

The bill further specifies that “the system will integrate with local public safety, and transmit 911 calls and mobile activations,” and “that each school employee be provided with a wearable panic alert device and specifies requirements for the panic alert device including specific notifications relating to emergency devices and communication.”

Additionally, the bill provides “criteria for emergency response maps and requires maps to be capable of creating and managing electronic asset tags that allow schools to know the unique identifier of the device. The bill provides that emergency response mapping date must be retained by the school and schools must ensure that security data is accessible by a local law enforcement agency in order to establish appropriate access protocols.”

While the bill has not yet been passed, it reflects a growing national movement toward faster, more connected emergency response in schools.

School Safety Grant Program (Missouri HB 14)

In February of 2023, the state of Missouri announced the School Safety Grant Program (HB 14), which approved $20 million in school safety grants. The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support to school districts and charter schools to invest in physical security upgrades and associated technology.

“Improving the safety and security of our schools is an issue we can all support, and these grants help ensure our schools remain safe environments for Missouri children to learn,” Governor Mike Parson said. “While threats of violence are something we never want to see in our classrooms, we must be prepared and have proper resources and response plans in place.” The $20 million grant was part of Governor Parson’s Fiscal Year 2023 early supplemental budget request. Governor Parson’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal includes an additional $50 million for the program, if approved by the General Assembly.

School Safety Grant funds may only be utilized for the following purposes:

• Emergency communication tools
• Visitor management systems
• Access control improvements
• Video surveillance equipment
• Safety planning, vulnerability assessments, and staff training
• Building security systems
• Bleeding control kits
• Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)
• Fencing to secure playgrounds
• Bollards to protect front entryways
• Safety film for glass in exterior doors and sidelights

View grant award totals on the DESE website here. For more guidance on the School Safety Grant program, view their resource guide here.

Missouri Center for Education Safety

Originally launched in 2001, the Center for Education Safety (CES) is Missouri’s sole statewide school safety organization and is supported and operated solely by the Missouri School Boards’ Association. Originally a partnership of MSBA, the Missouri Department of Public Safety, and the Missouri Office of Homeland Security, the CES works to enhance various aspects of emergency planning, preparedness, and safety and security throughout Missouri public and private schools. CES provides professional expertise through its staff on specific topics and also serves as a clearinghouse for reliable school safety information and resources.

CES Core Principles

• Teaching and learning only occur within a safe and secure environment for learners and those who instruct and support them. In fact, high performing public schools are dependent upon a safe and secure environment.
• Safety at public schools must be a community-focused effort. Collaboration is required between federal, state, and local policymakers, those who govern and manage schools, parents, law enforcement, and other emergency responders and organizations that support children and families.

To learn more about the CES, visit here.

School Safety Academy

MSBA’s School Safety Academy allows students to take classroom instruction-led courses and become certified as a “School Safety Specialist” at no cost. Once certified, School Safety Specialists are required to complete 8 hours of additional training every year (including the year they attend the academy) in order to keep their certification.

Safety Training Topics

Initial and subsequent academy training will focus on safety topics, including:

• Effective Communication/ Information Sharing
• Mental Health/Behavioral Risk
• School Climate and Culture
• Emergency Operations Plan
• Physical Security/Technology
• Safety Assessments/ Audits
• Training/ Drills
• Legal Issues
• Cyber Security

The next School Safety Academy will be July 25-27, 2023, in Jefferson City. To apply, visit the School Safety Academy website.

Courage2Report

Reporting

What should be reported?

Any threat to life that happens on school property or the school bus should be reported to C2R. This may include:

• Assault
• Weapons
• School Shooting
• Planned Suicide

Reports are accepted from:

• Students
• Parents
• School personnel
• Concerned citizens
• Confidential reporters

Once received, officials with the school and law enforcement will then determine how to appropriately handle each report. Submit a report online here.

CENTEGIX Safety Report 2026 School Safety Trends:
Clarity in Crisis - Replacing Uncertainty with Coordinated Response

Built from more than 346,000 wearable panic button alerts collected during the 2025–2026 school year, the 2026 School Safety Trends Report provides a comprehensive look at how K-12 schools are improving emergency response, strengthening preparedness, and enhancing campus safety nationwide through clarity.

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