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.

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: 

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.

Began in October 2001 and ran by MSBA, Courage2Report, Missouri’s statewide school violence tip line program, aims to make schools safer by helping school districts and law enforcement learn about school violence as soon as possible. Courage2Report accepts confidential reports that involve any public or private school in Missouri with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.