Survey Shows How K-12 Teachers View School Security

Teachers are an unmistakably vital part of the K-12 school security equation. And survey results released by Pew Research in April help shine a new light on how teachers view school shooting and security.

With school shootings at record high, a majority of teachers in the survey were at least somewhat worried about a shooting at their school. Seven percent were extremely concerned while 11 percent were very concerned. The other 41 percent were somewhat concerned with the possibility.

When it comes to preparation for an active shooter, almost 40 percent of teachers say their school has done a fair or poor job providing them training and resources. That’s definitely a surprise after so much emphasis has been made on training teachers for an active shooter.

Teachers in urban areas were the least likely to say that their school had dome an excellent or very good job of preparing them for an active shooter.

As good news, 30 percent of teachers said that their school has done an excellent/very good job preparing them for an active shooter. Thirty percent said their school did a good job.

Of the teachers surveyed, 56 percent have a police officer or armed security guard stationed at their school.

During the 2022-2023 school year, 23 percent of teachers experienced a lockdown because of a gun or suspicion of a gun at their school. Thirty-four percent of high school teachers said their campus went on at least one lockdown because of a gun issue.

The surveyed teachers were also asked what strategies could help precent school shootings. A substantial majority, 69 percent, said improving mental health screening and treatment for children and adults would be extremely/very effective. Almost 50 percent said having police officers or armed security stationed at schools would be extremely/very effective.

While this is just a small snapshot of teachers on K-12 campuses, it shows that there is still work to be done.

This article originally appeared in the May / June 2024 issue of Campus Security Today.

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

  • Campus Parking Problems: Modern Security Solutions

    Parking: for many, it’s an everyday fact of life. Whenever we drive somewhere, we must consider parking, and often, that parking experience sets our mood and expectations for the rest of the journey. Whether a quick grocery store pickup or long-term airport parking, the parking lot is an integral part of whatever type of campus you’re visiting. This includes destinations like retail stores, your local high school, hospitals, and the park-and-ride systems present in major cities. Read Now

  • The Critical Need for Naloxone on School Campuses

    The opioid crisis is escalating across the United States, increasingly affecting all segments of the population, including students on K-12 and college campuses. As the threat from opioids, especially fentanyl, becomes more widespread, it's critical for schools to have naloxone available—an antidote for opioid overdoses. This article discusses why naloxone should be as common as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in educational settings. Read Now

  • Best Practices for A Holistic Approach to Video Solutions in Campus Security

    Video surveillance is one of the most common security measures implemented by educational institutions today, but installing cameras is just the beginning. Adopting a holistic, comprehensive approach to video surveillance is a more effective way to safeguard campus communities and fully realize the value of your investment in physical security systems. Read Now

  • Back to School Planning is a Year-Round Commitment

    With summer underway, K-12 and college students, faculty, and staff are taking a well-earned break to recharge and gear up for the fall. It’s also the season when security professionals can get in and get busy installing upgrades and retrofits before the new school year starts. It’s a brief window, but, thanks to diligent planning throughout the year, the pros are always ready to hit the ground running at the last bell of spring term to make the most out of the limited time available. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars

Whitepapers