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Youth

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Improve School Safety

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) have introduced the bipartisan Alyssa's Legacy Youth in School Safety Alert Act, also known as the ALYSSA Act, to enhance safety measures in schools. The bill, named after Alyssa Alhadeff who died in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, aims to require silent panic alarms in all schools and increase investment in School Resource Officers (SROs) to protect students and faculty. The ALYSSA Act seeks to address the issue of school shootings and reduce response times in emergency situations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ALYSSA Act requires schools that receive federal funding under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to install silent panic alarms, which can average $1,000 per school.
  • The bill will increase investment in School Resource Officers (SROs) to ensure every school has access to trained officers, without additional red-tape or complicated standards from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
  • Only 29% of schools currently report using silent alarms that are directly connected to local law enforcement, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
  • Lori Alhadeff, the mother of Alyssa Alhadeff and co-founder of Make Our Schools Safe, stated that "seconds count in a life-threatening emergency situation" and the ALYSSA Act will save lives by empowering teachers to push a button directly linked to law enforcement.
  • Rep. Upton emphasized that "the pain and grief is unthinkable" and the ALYSSA Act is a concrete step to better protect children and schools.
  • Rep. Gottheimer stated that the legislation is a movement to Make Our Schools Safe and turn Alyssa's memory into action.

Statistics:

  • There are more than 98,000 public schools in the United States.
  • Only 29% of schools currently report using silent alarms that are directly connected to local law enforcement.
  • Silent panic alarms can average $1,000 per school.

Sources:

  • U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), News Release, February 16
  • National Center for Education Statistics, [Data on Silent Alarms]
  • Make Our Schools Safe, https://makeourschoolssafe.org/our-story/

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