Karen Keating, Senior Brand & Solutions Manager for Locks & Access Solutions at Allegion, discusses the key considerations for schools to create healthy learning environments.

School security

While technological advancements are making it easier than ever to monitor and secure K-12 school districts, community colleges and sprawling university campuses, there is no shortage of challenges for administrators to overcome.

Safety above anything else

Students – and faculty – who feel safe at school are better equipped to learn, work and build relationships with those around them.

A 2023 Gallup Poll found that 38% of parents of K-12 students fear for their child’s physical safety at school.

One in seven parents also reported their child expressed fear for their safety at school.

Schools are faced with a variety of daily threats including assault, bullying and vandalism.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 67% of public schools recorded at least one violent incident in 2021-2022.

Education Week has reported that there were 38 school shootings in 2023 that resulted in injuries or deaths, while as of early June 2024 there have been 20 that have resulted in injuries or death.

With the ongoing concerns about active shooter situations, barricade devices have seen a rise in popularity.

However, these solutions can introduce new risks and unintended consequences including student-on-student violence as well as hinder the ability for first responders to access the room in the case of an emergency.

Additional details can be found from the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS).

Schools must adhere to local building codes and meet the accessibility requirements outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design.

Improving school security should never come at the expense of fire and life safety code requirements.

Doors along paths of egress must be able to be unlocked and operable with a single motion, in the direction of egress.

Schools must also be prepared for all emergencies that can occur during and after normal hours.

Operational planning and practice drills ensure everyone knows what to do during severe weather, fire and active shooter events.

Individualized safety plans for those with mobility, visual or hearing impairments and behavioral challenges must also be addressed.

Security is the key component of a safer environment

Many experts will point to a layered approach to security as an effective strategy.

This approach provides multiple security controls which start from beyond the property line, then work inward to address the building grounds, perimeter and interior openings.

The PASS School Safety and Security Guidelines detail industry best practices; a checklist is available to help identify opportunities for improvement.

Consider applying principles from the 4 Ds of physical security: deter, detect, delay and deny.

Deter potential threats by using visual security measures that can include access control systems or security personnel.

Detect potential threats through monitoring or video surveillance equipment.

Delay potential threats by using physical barriers or reinforced access points.

Deny potential threats by implementing centralized lockdown solutions.

It should be noted that the physical security and detection systems are only as good as the policies and procedures that are in place and enforced.

Primary points of access should be limited and secondary doors that are intended to be locked should never be propped open.

Classroom doors should be closed and locked whenever students are in the classroom as highlighted in the article published in the April edition of Security Journal Americas, Best practices for classroom locks.

Schools should pay close attention to these areas of potential vulnerability and act as needed.

Convenience – where and when it matters

In K-12, safety and security will almost always outweigh convenience throughout the school day.

Faculty and staff are typically required to wear ID badges and students are funneled into the building through specific openings.

Most schools deploy visitor management systems and limit visitors to a single access point, like a secured vestibule, to help minimize external threats.

Authorized visitors can either be accompanied by staff members or identified by temporary badges, depending on security protocols.

However, many K-12 schools serve the community outside of regular hours.

Whether a sporting event, musical theater or award ceremony, schools often allow visitors the freedom to access the building from multiple entry points.

It is equally important to coordinate with local authorities and have safety plans and protocols to support these events.

Colleges and universities strive to create safe and secure environments while maintaining an open atmosphere for students, faculty and staff.

Students and their parents will evaluate campus safety as a factor when choosing a college.

Electronic access control is found on many academic buildings, residence halls and laboratories and it is integrated into the “one card” experience across campus.

The student badge ID, assigned at registration, is then used for multiple applications including access control, food services, library, bookstore purchases, transportation and more.

Since students rarely ever forget their phones, wallet-based mobile credentials are bringing an enhanced level of convenience and satisfaction to the college experience.

Striking the right balance

Schools should seek guidance from law enforcement and security professionals to employ strategies that can be scaled to evolve in the future.

Advanced technologies that utilize AI and machine learning will change the game over the next decade.

These technologies will be used to identify patterns in behavior which, in turn, can alert authorities to potential threats and either prevent the incident or enable quicker response.

With the right combination of safety, security and convenience, schools can create a positive and safe learning environment for all.

About the author

Karen Keating is the Senior Brand & Solutions Manager for Locks & Access Solutions at Allegion.

She has over 20 years of experience in the security industry and has a passion for seamless access and safer schools.

This article was originally published in the August edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.