CENTEGIX | Education

Missouri School Safety Standards

CENTEGIX | Education

Missouri School Safety Standards

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

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. 

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.

Additional Grants for Missouri School Safety Solutions

Stronger Connections Grants

In late 2022, the U.S. Department of Education announced nearly $1 billion in awards through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). In Missouri, the Stronger Connections grants aim to provide students with safe and supportive learning opportunities and environments critical for academic success. Missouri was awarded $15,082,238 from this program.

Through the BSCA, Congress awarded $1 billion in funding to state educational agencies (SEAs) to develop state grant programs to give students safer and healthier learning environments. The BSCA specifies that SEAs must award these funds competitively to high-need LEAs, as determined by the state.

This grant focuses on helping schools foster sustained learning, engagement, and attachment for students in Missouri schools. The Stronger Connections Grant Program mandates that schools should accomplish this by becoming more resilient, supporting mental health, and improving school climate.

According to the Department of Education, schools should spend Stronger Connections Grant Program funds to: 

  • Implement evidence-based strategies that meet students’ social, emotional, and mental well-being needs. 
  • Create positive, inclusive, and supportive school environments.
  • Increase access to place-based interventions and services.
  • Engage students, families, educators, staff, and community organizations in selecting and implementing strategies to create safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments. 
  • Design and implement policies and practices responsive to underserved students, protecting student rights, and demonstrating respect for student dignity and potential. 

Examples of spending that qualifies for funding include hiring counselors and nurses, expanding mental and behavioral health services, providing teacher training on inclusion and behavioral interventions, and other related efforts to create a positive and supportive climate in Missouri schools.

Esser Funds

As part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were made available to address the pandemic’s impact on student safety and mental well-being. As of July 31, 2022, Missouri has spent 22% of the total awarded funds.

For the first round of ESSER grants, the state was allocated $208,443,300. The deadline to obligate those funds was Sept. 30, 2022. 

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act was passed in 2020. As part of the act, Missouri’s ESSER II allocation was $871,172,291, and it must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2023.

Another round of funding was made available as part of the American Rescue Plan. Missouri’s portion of those ESSER funds is $1,957,916,288, and the obligation deadline is Sept. 30, 2024.

COPS School Violence Prevention Program

The U.S. Department of Justice oversees the COPS School Violence Prevention Program. The money is earmarked for evidence-based school safety programs and technology.

Schools can use those funds to purchase school safety technology that helps identify potential dangers. The money can also be used to improve emergency notification and response systems.

To learn more, visit the COPS website.

BJA’s STOP School Violence Program

The U.S. Department of Justice also has funds available through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. BJA’s STOP School Violence Program funds software that helps K-12 schools maintain a safe environment. It’s geared toward recognizing, responding to, and preventing violence on campus.

Learn more here.

Federal Grants

The list of federal grants awarded to Missouri for the 2022-23 school year includes:

  • IDEA ARP: $49,733,879 
  • IDEA: $309,108,762
  • Title I: $533,774,493
  • Title IV-A: $17,942,712

CENTEGIX Safety Report

2024 School Safety Trends: Saving Seconds Saves Lives

Discover our latest, comprehensive analysis of school safety incidents gathered from the CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ usage data for the 2023-2024 school year in our report 2024 School Safety Trends: Saving Seconds Saves Lives.

See what our safety report reveals regarding safety in the classroom, state safety legislation, and critical components of school safety solutions. Download your copy today.

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How Are Your Resources Being Spent?

CENTEGIX protects over 12,000 locations across the country. We can protect yours, too.

The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™, featuring CrisisAlert™, accelerates your response to emergencies. We’ve built the CENTEGIX Safety Platform to support you in the single most critical factor of incident response: time. Because in an emergency, every second matters.

Discover federal resources to fund new safety and security initiatives in your district by exploring federal funding resources for school safety.

Hear from Our Educators

We engage with teachers and staff every day to understand how CrisisAlert supports them, and here’s what they’ve shared:

A student was having trouble breathing and her vision was beginning to black out. We don’t have service in our building and it can be difficult to get ahold of the office staff, so having something to immediately alert them of emergency was incredibly helpful in a very scary situation.

Elementary school teacher

Clayton County Schools, GA

I had a student who was refusing to follow directions and became very defiant. This student was beginning to get aggressive. I used my badge to alert our campus security monitor to remove the student from the situation. It is a very useful tool when the response was as immediate as it was.

High school teacher

Clark County School District, NV

A student was having a severe panic attack, trouble speaking, crying, not able to answer my questions as to what was wrong with her. I used the device to call for administrative help and it worked like it was designed to. Help arrived in a matter of seconds. I saw firsthand how well it works.

Middle school teacher

Palm Beach County Schools, FL

Championing Safe Schools with Educators and Educator Associations

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Little Rock School District Logo

Discover the Safety Platform

Safety solutions that prioritize speed for the best outcome.

One Button Activation icon
A wearable mobile panic button quickly and discreetly initiates alerts.
Location Accuracy icon

Mapping and locating capabilities provide the precise locationof emergencies, visitors, and safety assets.

Audio Visual Notifications icons
Audiovisual notifications notify everyone rapidly of a crisis.
One Button Activation icon

A visitor management system screens and locates visitors on your campus.

One Button Activation icon

Protocol development to plan for rapid incident response.

One Button Activation icon
A private, managed network provides campus-wide coverage.
One Button Activation icon
Integrations to your existing safety assets to extend their capabilities.

CENTEGIX CrisisAlert vs. Mobile Apps

CrisisAlert eliminates vulnerabilities related to app-only solutions and enables rapid incident response to all emergencies.

In an Emergency, You Need CrisisAlert™

Adverse situations can happen at any moment—from everyday crises such as medical emergencies, severe weather, and physical altercations to extreme situations that threaten your entire campus. The faster you get help to the right location, the better the outcome.

See how our CrisisAlert wearable mobile panic button empowers staff to get help instantly in an emergency. 

Ready to Connect with a CENTEGIX Specialist to Learn More?

Jim Frodsham

Education Channel Manager

Phone: 360-773-6477

Email: jfrodsham@centegix.com

Monica Leroy

VP, Regional Sales

Phone: 512-775-3991

Email: mleroy@centegix.com

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