Back to School: Mass Notification Preparedness Checklist for K-12

Kara Stamets, Sr. Content Marketing Specialist, Alertus Technologies

While some school districts have already kicked off the 2024-2025 school year, for others, it is fast approaching. Officials must ensure that their school(s) are equipped with the latest mass notification solutions that meet and exceed important codes and mandates to keep students, teachers, and staff safe. Doing so will strengthen trust in the school’s safety program and instill confidence in school administrators and teachers when responding to emergencies.

We’ve created a checklist to help your district prepare for a safe school year.

Mass Notification Checklist 

  1. Evaluate your system:

Evaluating your system within your K-12 School will prepare your school for emergencies.

  • How easy is our system to use?

  • Are there any gaps in our ability to communicate with staff and students?

  • Will the system work during internet outages?

  • Are we able to notify specific groups, buildings, or areas?

  • Can alerts be distributed over multiple modes of communication?

  • Are we using at least two of the four recommended layers of communication? (Facility, Network, Outdoor, and Personal)


2. Satisfy safety requirements:

Meeting the NFPA 72 code and Alyssa's Law are critical in adhering to safety standards.

  • The National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72) recommends that your mass notification system (MNS) include two forms of communication. The NFPA 72 further states that your MNS should provide visible notification where audible notification is provided. That way, the hearing impaired will be accommodated, per ADA compliance as well.
    Learn More

  • Alyssa’s Law requires public schools to have silent panic alert systems linked directly to first responders and law enforcement to improve response times during emergencies. The law has been implemented in several states and is pending across many more. All schools can benefit from enforcing this best practice.

    Learn more about Alyssa’s Law and mass notification solutions that help meet Alyssa’s Law.

3. Perform consistent testing and drills: 

Students lining up outside of a classroom with a teacher present. An activation button on the wall can be pressed in an emergency.

  • To maintain emergency readiness, your MNS should be tested at least twice a year. It is also important to conduct monthly or quarterly checks, especially after system updates. Drills will familiarize your students and staff with safety procedures in case of an actual emergency. 

Following this checklist will help prepare for emergencies that may arise. Learn more about our multilayered mass notification solutions for K-12 schools here.

Resources 

Case Study: Arlington Public Schools

With critical infrastructure for mass notification already established through physical and technological systems, Arlington Public Schools wanted to build on that by integrating and connecting all of their separate mass notification systems into one, unified solution. Learn More

Panic Button Solutions for Rapid Incident Reporting

K-12 schools have unique security requirements to consider when choosing panic button solutions, including facility layout, students and visitors, and existing infrastructure. Alertus offers a full suite of panic buttons to empower staff with rapid incident reporting capability and alert faculty, students, and district administration of threats before, during, and after an emergency. Learn More 

Kara Stamets