Topic
Follow the latest school safety developments across US K-12 education. School safety, security, emergency planning and crisis response.
Last updated: October 5, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, K-12 News has published 4 school safety stories over the last 30 days, across 4 states and 4 organizations. The most active states are Hawaii, Maine and Nevada.
Gettysburg Area School District has received more than $490,000 in state safety and mental health grants since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office, using some funds to hire social workers.
Clark County School District lost 10,400 students, cutting state funding by about $100 million. Emergency aid will help restore staff positions and support staff hours reduced in fall cuts.
Maine DOE’s self-paced courses are now available on EnGiNE to help bus drivers teach students safe riding practices. The materials aim to provide consistent safety messages statewide.
Students at most public campuses on Kauaʻi return Sept. 14 after storm closures. Kīlauea Elementary reopens Sept. 15, while Hanalei Elementary students return Sept. 21 as recovery continues.
District 49 will oversee the online schools for 2026-27 after Education reEnvisioned BOCES dissolved. The schools enrolled 4,707 students last year; teachers and student supports will remain in place.
In Massachusetts, Gov. Healey signed the PROTECT Act, a measure to keep federal immigration enforcement officers out of school buildings, hospitals and courthouses.
Governor
States are using new laws and nonbinding guidance to address access to schools and books, student devices and artificial intelligence. Massachusetts enacted laws aimed at preventing book bans in schools and libraries and keeping federal immigration enforcement officers out of schools, hospitals and courthouses. Connecticut adopted guidance recommending bell-to-bell limits on students’ personal devices and addressing classroom screen time, while Illinois issued a framework for district decisions on AI in teaching and operations; neither sets statewide classroom mandates.
Safety centres, emergency planning, threat assessment, security funding and crisis response.
Construction, renovation, transport and school infrastructure investment.
Illinois, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are taking steps to expand school mental health screening and support staffing. Illinois has issued guidance to help districts prepare for annual mental health screenings in grades 3–12 starting in 2027–28, with parents able to opt their children out. Pennsylvania’s $8 million program has placed 42 school psychology interns in 22 schools this year and offers eligible interns support in high-need districts. Massachusetts has increased school funding to help retain teachers, paraprofessionals and mental health counselors.
Professional learning initiatives include newly available self-paced bus safety courses in Maine, planned free online AI training in Missouri, and a new educator institute tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary in New York City. Connecticut’s five-year federal literacy grant will expand small-group reading interventions across 75 elementary schools and provide educator coaching. In Rhode Island and Maryland, Advance CTE is coaching efforts to expand career pathway access while embedding student participation in program and policy design.
School funding developments include increased state allocations in Illinois and continued federal career and technical education funding at current levels. Illinois’s fiscal 2027 evidence-based funding grew by $350 million to $9.3 billion, with every district receiving more than last year, while a federal stopgap measure extended Perkins V funding through December 11. Kansas received an $8.4 million federal grant to strengthen its educator pipeline. In Massachusetts, Gov. Healey appointed western Massachusetts K–12 education and universal preschool leaders to the Foundation Budget Review Commission.
Based on: With Shapiro Administration Investments in Student Mental Health, Highly Qualified Social Workers Are Supporting Gettysburg Area School District Students
Based on: Maine School Safety Center Announces Release of First Phase of School Bus Safety Training Modules
Based on: State Board approves emergency transfer of four multi-district online schools to District 49
