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Maximizing K-12 Stimulus Funding to Improve Long-Term School Safety The CARES Act, CRRSA Act, and ARP Act are giving districts an unprecedented amount of stimulus funding to address the impacts of COVID-19. When used strategically, districts can purchase the tools needed to safely reopen, respond to COVID-19, and maintain a safe learning environment long after the pandemic ends.  Below we look at how school safety software can have

How to Write Your School Reopening & Continuity Plan to Meet ARP ESSER Fund Requirements The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act includes the ARP ESSER Fund, which allocates $126 billion to K-12 schools. These funds give districts and schools the resources to implement recommended best practices for K-12 reopening and staying open. The U.S. Department

A critical aspect of K-12 emergency response is the accountable reunification of students with their parents or guardians. A successful, streamlined reunification requires schools to implement tangible plans for each type of reunification, including on-site, off-site, and partial. Below is an overview of each type and key things you must consider for your school reunification

Clear communication is critical for expedited, successful school emergency response. There have unfortunately been numerous incidents where response was jeopardized due to misinformation or lack of communication between the school and first responders.   Below are seven tips schools should consider to ensure everyone—teachers, staff, students, first responders, and law enforcement agencies—has the information they need to quickly and intelligently respond to any emergency.   1. Use One Integrated

As schools reopen, more and more volunteers—both in-person and virtual—will be needed to support students as they return to in-person learning. Volunteers, like tutors, mentors, and other educational professionals, play a significant role in both supporting students and improving their academic performance. Students that work with volunteers are also more likely to stay engaged in school. Below are the

“It took 69 seconds before the first law enforcement officer was notified. At that point, Cruz (the assailant) had already shot 23 people on the first floor of Building 12.” Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission Initial Report  The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is a grim example of what can

All public and charter schools in Florida are required to demonstrate Alyssa’s Law compliance by August 1, 2021. Choosing the right partner is the foundation of your success, not only to meet the approaching deadline but to also have a panic button and alert system that is truly valuable for k-12 emergency response.  Below are the top five reasons Florida districts

Nick Lucas is the Director of Safety and Security at Craven County Schools in North Carolina. Having decades of experience in law enforcement, as well as 8 years in the U.S. Navy, Nick recognized the district’s need for a comprehensive emergency management approach. When looking at various organizations for guidance, Nick discovered that Raptor—who the district is already partnered with for visitor management—is a mission partner of The “I

In March 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in response to the pandemic. CARES included approximately $13.2 billion for The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, signed into law in December 2020, provides an additional $54.3 billion in an ESSER II Fund. In March

We recently hosted a webinar about essential actions school administrators, teachers, and support staff can take to establish security measures, build a healthy school culture, and conduct proper training. In the webinar:  Adam Coughran, President and Co-Founder of Safe Kids, Inc., discussed the research behind the H.E.R.O. Program. The program includes age-appropriate student-facing curriculum, professional development for staff, an accessibility guide for students with special needs,

Together, the CDC and The U.S. Department of Education (ED) have launched a comprehensive, all-in-one operational strategy for K-12 schools to safely reopen and remain open. In February 2021, the CDC released a new roadmap, “Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Mitigation,” which recommends key strategies to safely return to and maintain in-person learning. To support the CDC

Our most insightful channel to what is occurring within districts across the nation is having discussions with our over 35,000 partner schools. We recently asked them about their learning environment, current challenges, and concerns about the spring semester and the 2021/2022 school year. Here’s what nearly 200 schools across the U.S. said.  Majority of Schools Have People on Campus With so many uncertainties about the pandemic, schools shut buildings and transitioned

Days after the somber third anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy, the Florida Department of Education named Raptor as an approved partner for Florida’s Alyssa’s Law mandate.   Florida public and charter schools are required to have a mobile panic alert system implemented by August 1, 2021. Schools must act knowledgably and swiftly to choose the right partner and solution to meet

“Time is of the essence. [The] Marjory Stoneman [Douglas tragedy] taught us that.” –  Dave Lupinetti, Charlotte County Public School District (FL) We all understand how prompt emergency awareness and response can drastically impact any situation. We also all recognize how fast emergencies escalate and why a panic button is a critical need for any school. Panic button

With over 35,000 K-12 partner schools, Raptor is fortunate to have thousands of insightful conversations with schools across the country about what is occurring within their buildings and communities. We recently had a panel discussion with two Raptor partner districts to talk about school safety now and after the pandemic. The panel included:   Marti Neahring: Director, Student

Schools have shown incredible dedication, flexibility, and innovation as COVID-19 forced them to address the many urgent threats of the pandemic. Now—about a year after the virus began to impact our communities—schools must continue COVID-19 response while supporting daily operations and focusing on student and staff safety.  This focus on safety must consider  safety policies and procedures, like being prepared for any emergency, maintaining an updated emergency operations plan (EOP), and ensuring only approved individuals have school access. Although

Alyssa’s Law, which requires Florida public and charter schools to have silent panic alert systems linked directly to first responder and law enforcement agencies, is an excellent example of legislation that captures solid emergency management practices. We all understand the need to comply with Alyssa’s Law, but why should you go above and beyond the requirements? Responding to Emergencies Requires More than

Schools are obligated to protect their students and staff from any threat and emergency, whether it’s a manmade incident like violence or a natural hazard such as inclement weather and pandemics. This protection requires robust planning. It’s not just a matter of feeling safe; it’s also necessary to maintain the integrity of your educational environment.   We all know why emergency management is important, but what does successful emergency management

Schools, especially those who have limited visitation or have moved to remote learning models, may question why they should switch from paper and pencil logbooks to a visitor management system during the pandemic. A robust visitor management system includes screening visitors for sex offender status and custody alerts as well as helping keep your school community safe from COVID-19. Leveraging a visitor management system will continue to help keep your schools safe and be a critical component to your school security approach long after the

Planning for wide-scale emergencies is absolutely critical, but localized, everyday incidents are more frequent. You’ve probably already responded to more than one irate visitor, sprained ankle, or flooded restroom. You know how these everyday situations can quickly escalate without the presence of the appropriate personnel to identify and resolve the issue. Experts also warn that we may see an increase

Although school shootings are relatively rare, it’s imperative that schools—and everyone inside of them—know exactly what to do in an active shooter situation. Training, which includes conducting drills, helps teachers, students, and staff respond to the emergency and ultimately save lives. These top 5 considerations are based on recommendations and best practices from various school safety experts, including the National Association of School Resources Officers

Over 55 million students—and their guardians—trust schools to keep them safe. Being able to successfully respond to emergencies is a key component of maintaining this trust and sustaining a safe school. There are many facets to emergency response, and as the school climate continues to change and new legislation takes effect, schools are obligated to have processes and resources to prepare for, respond to,

COVID-19 continues to disrupt daily lives and drastically impact our students, staff, and learning environments. Industry leaders and mental health professionals have warned that we may see an increase in incidents or students who “act out” as our classrooms reopen.   It’s more imperative than ever that our schools are safeguarded and that the people within them can confidently

In a recent webinar, K-12 experts and law enforcement leaders discussed why the partnership between law enforcement and schools is critical to school safety. The panel includes:  James Englert: SRO at Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and Board Member of The “I Love U Guys” Foundation and National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO)   Chris Zimmerman: Principal at Douglas County School District and Board Member of The “I Love U Guys” Foundation  Carly Posey:

Visitor management systems have the same goals: to keep unwanted entrants out and track visitor activity. But not all systems are created equal and not all vendors can provide a solution and partnership that are valuable. Below are five questions you should ask when evaluating visitor management solution providers. Top 5 Questions Is the solution designed for K-12? Schools need

America’s Safe Schools Week was October 17-23. To honor America’s Safe Schools Week all month, Raptor Technologies® is sharing some of the best practices we have compiled from our 32,000 K-12 clients and nearly 20 years of experience as a school safety partner. This series of 4 articles highlights drills, emergency response, parent-student reunification, and

In their report, Ten Essential Actions to Improve Safety, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) School Safety Working Group shared 10 things schools can do—from a law enforcement perspective—to mitigate and prevent school violence. The report recommends schools take a balanced, holistic, and robust approach to school safety that involves multidisciplinary planning

America’s Safe Schools Week is October 17-23. To honor America’s Safe Schools Week all month, Raptor Technologies® is sharing some of the best practices we have compiled from our 32,000 K-12 clients and nearly 20 years of experience as a school safety partner. This series of 4 articles highlights drills, emergency response, parent-student reunification, and

America’s Safe Schools Week is October 17-23. To honor America’s Safe Schools Week all month, Raptor Technologies® is sharing some of the best practices we have compiled from our 32,000 K-12 clients and nearly 20 years of experience as a school safety partner. This series of 4 articles highlights drills, emergency response, parent-student reunification, and

We are excited to announce our new partnership with Critical Response Group Inc. (CRG) to advance communications between schools and first responders. The partnership elevates our aligned missions: to protect every child, every school, every day and to enable first responders to make better decisions faster with the ultimate goal of saving lives, respectively. Toms

America’s Safe Schools Week is October 17-23. To honor America’s Safe Schools Week all month, Raptor Technologies® is sharing some of the best practices we have compiled from our 32,000 K-12 clients and nearly 20 years of experience as a school safety partner. This series of 4 articles highlights drills, emergency response, parent-student reunification, and more.  Emergency situations—when any decision could be the difference between life and death—can be stressful

Robert Sanders, Senior I&T Project Manager at Broward County Public Schools, knew evaluating and implementing a visitor management solution would be an immense project. With over 250 campuses, ever-growing departments and buildings spread across a vast geographical area, thousands of staff to train, and increased scrutiny, Robert was familiar with the unique challenges a district-wide implementation would have—but no one was familiar with

When students, teachers, and staff are in school—and when parents send their children to school—they expect the school to keep them safe from an array of threats like bad weather, acts of violence, student fights, and now COVID-19. A comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that outlines how your school will prepare for, respond to, and

Meeting stringent drill requirements, identifying dangerous visitors, vetting and managing school volunteers, being equipped to respond to emergencies, and protecting communities against COVID-19 are just some of the increasingly complex school safety needs that districts must address. Below we discuss how Raptor® empowers schools to address these needs and which federal and state funding sources

Raptor Technologies®, a trusted partner to over 32,000 K-12 U.S. schools, has been having conversations with districts and schools throughout the pandemic to understand their needs and help them address COVID-19.  Conversations have focused on how schools will keep students and others with COVID-19 exposure risk out, facilitate contact tracing, distribute resources to students, and

COVID-19 has changed typical back-to-school plans and has caused schools around the nation to revisit many policies—from updating attendance requirements to reducing class sizes to changing visitor management procedures. However, one thing has remained the same: schools have an obligation to provide safe and secure learning environments for their students and staff. Knowing that students,

Limiting contact with visitors as they check into your school is a necessary step to keep your staff and students healthy and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Raptor® Visitor Management system provides everything you need to screen visitors for COVID-19 exposure and facilitate contact tracing—while also enabling you to screen, track, and report on

School security software has made great inroads in the last five or six years, being adopted by increasing numbers of K−12 schools, yet a significant number of schools still rely on some form of handwritten, hard-copy visitor log to document and track school visitors, volunteers, and contractors. Keeping track of school visitors is essential, of

As states ease stay-at-home guidelines and school districts start to plan to reopen, one fact stands out: COVID-19 has not yet been defeated and the disease remains a threat to public health. Although efforts are fully underway to develop a vaccine, such protections do not yet exist, so precautions must still be taken and efforts

The COVID-19 pandemic may have altered your school’s typical volunteer plan. Volunteers for bake sales, for example, may no longer be needed—at least for the time being—but engaging your community through volunteerism is still a great way to promote and maintain a positive environment. While in-person or group volunteering events may have to be rescheduled,

On March 27, 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $2 trillion CARES Act relief package includes $30.75 billion for an Education Stabilization Fund, which provides flexibilities for states to respond to the pandemic.  The Act includes two grant programs that

School closures and stay-in-place restrictions have placed huge demands on students, parents, administrators, and teachers. School officials and faculty have shown tremendous agility and dedication in adapting instruction, resource distribution, and meal delivery to keep meeting their students’ needs in the face of the pandemic. This flexibility and innovation,   occurring as it has within days

As the school year reaches its end and social distancing remains in effect, there is an increased focus on delivering personal items left behind and/or graduation items to students. This type of distribution, where items belong to specific students, can be difficult to manage and bring challenges such as: Ensuring items are delivered to the

In a recent webinar focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, a panel of industry leaders addressed considerations for school safety amongst school closures, as well as preparation for back to school. The four industry leaders include: Dr. Stephen Sroka, President of Health Education Consultants and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve

With thousands of school closures in response to COVID-19, The “I Love U Guys” Foundation®—a well-known school safety organization that provides research-based best practices to help schools respond to crises—realized it could modify its Standard Reunification Method™ (SRM) to meet schools’ needs for distributing critical resources to students, such as homework, learning devices, and meals.

COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, forcing schools to adjust their routines. Now, at the time of writing, some 124,000 K-12 schools are closed because of the pandemic, impacting at least 55 million students. Ensuring Students Receive What They Need Almost 30 million of our nation’s students rely on schools for nutritious meals, and

As COVID-19 continues to spread, schools around the world face the daunting challenge of keeping their students and staff safe. While most U.S. schools are closed, there are some schools that are still open, and even those that are closed to students can still be open to staff, visitors, or contractors. Schools must still take

Access Control vs. Visitor Management Systems A primary concern for educators and parents alike is a threatening intruder entering a school and endangering the lives of students and staff. Two key tools districts rely on to stop intruders are visitor management systems and access control systems. Although both systems help provide a safer environment by

A Streamlined Reunification Process Minimizes Fear and Chaos When a student finds himself in a crisis event at school, one of his first thoughts is getting to safety and finding his caregivers. Moreover, research shows that the sooner students are reunited with their caregivers, the less likely they are to suffer from symptoms of traumatic

This article originally appeared on WHNT 19News. To view the original article, click here. Jun 21, 2019   MADISON COUNTY, Ala. — The Madison County Board of Education is investing in some serious security for their schools. It’s a new system that keeps track of every visitor, where they are, who they are, and checks a

A School Security Checklist: Proven Practices to Help Strengthen K–12 School Security Districts continually review their school security roadmaps to better prepare for potential threats to student and staff safety — from unauthorized visitors, to fires, to possible natural disasters, up to and including violent intruders and active shooters — so we’ve compiled the following

What the Nation’s Largest School Districts Are Doing to Protect Students and Staff Recent mass shootings have again sparked a national debate on gun laws, mental health, and approaches and attitudes toward public safety. But for K-12 school districts across the country, protecting students and staff from dangerous intruders has never truly been a matter

Emergency Notification – and So Much More: The Raptor Emergency Management System Emergency Notification System For as long as people have faced potentially dangerous or even life-threatening situations, they have needed a way to communicate the presence of danger to their fellow citizens. In the modern day, television, radio, and civil defense sirens represent just

This article originally appeared on Fox 12News. To view the original article, click here. LAKE OSWEGO, OR (KPTV) – Lake Oswego schools are taking an extra step to make sure they know exactly who’s walking through their buildings, specifically sex offenders. “We need to do whatever we can to protect our kids, and to know who

877-772-7867 Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube Get Started Request A Quote 6 Tips for school violence prevention School violence can be prevented.  A predictable “pathway to violence” can be observed as school shooters plan out their attacks ahead of time, disclosing these plans through friends, social media, and assignments.  Often multiple adults are troubled by their

This article originally appeared on Times News. To view the original article, click here. Mar 12, 2019 BLOUNTVILLE — A visitor management system is in place at all 22 Sullivan County schools, a system also used in neighboring school systems including those in Kingsport and Johnson City. It is called the Raptor Visitor Management System, provided by

This article originally appeared on The Kansas city star. To view the original article, click here. Aug 19, 2018 Robert M. Atwell Jr., 40, of Marceline, Missouri WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE A man accompanied a woman to a Tennessee elementary school early Monday morning to register her child for classes. It was the first day of school