VirginiaSchool Safety Standards

School Safety Legislation & Resources

Virginia Passes Alyssa’s Law: HB 592

Introduced in January 2026 and passed in April 2026, HB 592, also known as Alyssa’s Law, permits any school board to provide any school board employee in a public elementary or secondary school building in the local school division with a wearable panic alarm system.

Wearable panic alarm system is defined in the bill as a security system that is capable of being worn on the body of the user and by which the user manually activates a device that sends:

• A signal to the local 9-1-1 public safety answering point that indicates a school security emergency that requires immediate response.
• A multisensory schoolwide school security emergency notification, when appropriate.

School Security Equipment Grants Program:

In late 2022, the Virginia Department of Education announced $12 million in state School Security Equipment Grants to provide school safety solutions that protect students, faculty, and visitors in Virginia public schools. The grants will provide funding to 431 schools in 90 school divisions. The award criteria prioritize schools most in need of modern security equipment, with high numbers of offenses, with needs identified by a school security audit, and in divisions least able to afford security upgrades.

The Virginia General Assembly established the School Security Equipment Grants program in 2013, in the aftermath of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. In 2020, the General Assembly doubled the total annual appropriation for the program from $6 million to $12 million. The legislature also increased the maximum award per school division from $100,000 to $250,000.

Security equipment that qualifies for funding under the School Security Equipment Grants Program includes:

• Intercom systems and supporting technology.
• Security film, surveillance equipment, and cameras.
• Security lighting systems.
• Electronic access control systems.
• Mass notification telephone systems equipment.
• Visitor badging systems.
• Security scanning equipment.
• Two-way radios.
• Security alarm.
• Security panic systems.
• Security door hardware and classroom door locks.
• Uninterrupted power supply for emergency systems back up.

Learn more about the grant here.

Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety

The Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety was created in 2000 to improve and enhance safety in Virginia. It accomplishes this mission by addressing security and safety topics affecting Virginia law enforcement, schools, and higher education institutions. The VCSCS is a resource and training center for information and research about national and statewide safety efforts and initiatives in K-12 schools and higher education institutions. The organization aims to assist Virginia schools in creating and implementing effective school safety solutions.

The VCSC’s mandate includes:

• Provide training for stakeholders.
• Develop, review, and disseminate resources and legislation.
• Facilitate the annual school safety audit.
• Provide technical assistance.
• Develop partnerships to promote school safety in Virginia.

The VCSC School Safety Survey is a yearly web-based survey that provides K-12 public schools with a standardized format for conducting a safety audit. The Virginia School Safety Audit assesses safety conditions in public schools. It develops solutions to improve building security and student safety concerns. The VCSC then recommends structural adjustments, changes in school safety procedures, and revisions to the school board’s standards for student conduct.

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.

Download your copy today.

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