SCHOOL SAFETY RELATED GRANT PROGRAMS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
te On June 28, 2022, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman, and House Appropriations Chair Dr. Greg Bonnen announced $17.1 million in funding to TEA to distribute to school districts to purchase silent panic alert technology (SPAT).
On October 27, 2022, they announced an additional $400 million in funding to TEA to "assist school districts in replacing or upgrading doors, windows, fencing, communications, and other safety measures."
GEER ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS (GAPS) GRANT PROGRAM
The GAPS grant program is part of the GEER II Fund, authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). It was authorized by the Office of the Governor (OOG) to provide funding to non-public schools to address COVID-19 related activities associated with safely reopening schools, promoting school safety, continuing instruction, addressing learning loss, and supporting educational technology.
This program allows for eligible private non-profit schools to request services to address needs identified and caused by the pandemic, including school safety related activities.
The Texas Education Agency will verify providers as well as control and administer the funds.
(GEER) Assistance to
Private Schools (GAPS)
Grant Program
Statewide Training Video
Great video that is the first step for taking a look what school safety grants are currently available for your private school.
Here's a checklist that may help you with the answer:
Kari’s Law Requirements
1. Does your current 911 infrastructure notify relevant parties that an emergency call has been made via an organization provided PBX phone?
2. Does your current 911notification provide the location of the device that dialed 911?
3. Does your current 911 infrastructure allow for 911 calls to be places without requiring them to dial 9 first then the number?
Ray Baum’s Act
1. When you dial 911 from your business phone, do you send the complete building address with the call through the 911 network?
2. When you dial 911 from your business phone, do you send additional information that allows the calling party to be located in a reasonable amount of time to the PSAP and on-site individuals?
3. Does your organization contain multiple buildings or buildings with multiple floors that are listed under one address?
If you answered “YES” to the questions regarding building with multiple floors:
3.1 Do you provide this additional location data (i.e. building, floor, zone) with 911 calls?
3.2 Can the level of location detail you provide allow you and/or first responders the ability to find the caller in a reasonable amount of time?
4. Do you have a way of updating associated device locations in the 911 records when the devices are moved?
5. Do you have a mechanism for knowing when devices move throughout the network so that the associated 911 records can be updated?
6. If you have employees working from home who are using a softphone on a laptop or a hardware IP or SIP phone, are you currently provisioning their location data to the 911 database?
7. If you have employees that travel frequently and using a softphone on a laptop or a hardware IP or SIP phone, are you currently provisioning their location data to the 911 database?
Governor Abbott signs Alyssa's Law
Gov. Abbott signed the school safety bill known as Alyssa's Law so now ALL schools in Texas will be required to have some type of classroom panic button installed by the school year 2025-2026.
Over 95% of Texas schools are already looking at what to do to comply with Alyssa's Law and there's more than $1 Billion has been set aside to PAY for it!
Brookside is your single point of contact for the latest in school safety products.
Alyssa's Law
The Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida took the lives of 17 children and school staff members.
One of these victims, 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff (shown below), inspired a law, known as Alyssa’s Law that that was just passed into Texas Law (SB 838/HB 669) on May 5, 2023.
Alyssa’s Law is critical legislation that calls for the installation of silent panic alarms that are directly linked to law enforcement, so in case of any emergency they will get on the scene as quickly as possible, take down a threat and triage any victims.
Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas signed Alyssa's Law to address the issue of law enforcement response time when a life-threatening emergency occurs.
Alyssa’s Law mandates that all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas shall have silent panic alert technology installed in their classrooms by the 2025-2026 school year.
Emergency Response Applications Must Include:
1) Administrative Access to Critical Information
Silent Panic Alarm System
2) Real-Time Communication Between First Responders
3) 2-Way Communication with Users.
At the end of the day it's about saving lives and Alyssa's Law calls for the installation of warning lights and a panic alarm in schools to provide the fastest possible support during a code red.
In code red situations with an active shooter, every second counts.
Texas Passes Alyssa’s Law
Texas took a major step to secure our schools by passing Alyssa’s Law, critical legislation that will bring panic alarm technology into every school across the state. If you aren’t familiar with Alyssa’s Law, we can help.
What do I need to know about Alyssa’s Law?
Championed for years by Representative Shawn Thierry (D-Houston) and brought to the Senate by Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), this bipartisan legislation aims to enhance school safety by requiring schools to install panic alarms that notify law enforcement during emergencies.
Alyssa’s Law was passed by both the Texas House and Senate, sending the bill to Governor Abbott’s desk.
When signed into law, Texas schools will have until the start of the 2025-2026 school year to install qualified panic alarm systems.
Is there funding available for Silent Panic Alarm Technology (SPAT)?
Yes. The School Safety Formula Grant, which is administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), can provide funding for school districts to purchase and install panic alarms, among other safety measures.
FEATURES & BENEFITS
See how it works from the Police Car!
InformaCast On-Premises Mass Notification
InformaCast is a cloud-based mass notification system that delivers critical messages across on-premises and mobile devices, ensuring speed, reach, and reliability during emergencies.
Integrates with existing systems – Works with Cisco phones, overhead speakers, strobes, panic buttons, and more.
Multi-channel communication – Broadcast live, ad hoc, or prerecorded alerts via IP phones, speakers, desktops, and digital signage.
Single management interface – Control devices, alerts, and triggers from one console or desk phone.
Resiliency – Ensures alerts reach the right people even during system failures.
Bells & Announcements – Simplifies scheduling for schools and hospitals with no extra fees.
Targeted notifications – Define groups/zones to reach specific teams, buildings, or areas without unnecessary disruption.
Comprehensive coverage – Uses text and audio across all available channels to ensure everyone receives life-safety alerts quickly.
Bottom Line: InformaCast centralizes and simplifies emergency notifications, improving response times, reducing costs, and keeping people safe.
InformaCast Emergency Mass Notification Software Demo
SMART BADGES WITH PANIC BUTTONS
Whether you work in a secure, secluded, or high-paced, crowded environment, it is critical to reach your staff, personnel, or students during an emergency.
The Alertus Smart Badge allows users to quickly, subtly, and remotely request help when and where they need it most. This discreet, wearable Bluetooth panic button solution enables organizations and K-12 schools to insert a standard ID card or access control card (2.5” x 3.85”) and instantly:
- Report an incident or launch an alert by pushing the concave, textured button on the back of the badge
- Provide room-level location accuracy
- Activate notifications through all integrated products by pressing the button multiple times
SMART BADGE FEATURES
Integration: Fully integrated with the Alertus suite of emergency mass notification products; can be configured to work with third-party systems or products
Simple to Use: Reporting an incident or launching an alert is as easy as pushing a textured button with a concave design to allow users to quickly find the button position without observing it and reducing the odds of mis-contact
Wearable: Lightweight with a slim profile. The badges can be fitted horizontally or vertically and attached to a keychain or lanyard alongside others
Facility-Wide Activation: Pressing the panic button multiple times activates notification alerts through all integrated products
Versatile: Use as a personal panic button to inform security and first responders of an incident or immediately launch a systemwide alert for a general emergency
Location Awareness: Bluetooth 5 compatibility offers room-level location accuracy to reduce response time; it doesn’t require WiFi or cell service
Waterproof: Waterproof capabilities enable badges to perform reliably in even the most challenging environment
SMART BADGES
While Kontakt.io’s cloud technology enables mobile apps that help people navigate indoor spaces, our mobile experience goes beyond wayfinding, bringing together insights from across our solutions.
Gain all critical data you need through our APIs—where you are, work you need to get done, the closest equipment, nearby colleagues, customers’ whereabouts, an available meeting room next to you - to name a few.
By contextualizing the data with the user location, we help create innovative enterprise experiences, making a difference for staff and customers.
We combine RTLS, IoT, and AI technologies within a unified platform to address your digital business challenges.
Easy to Buy. We simplify pricing with a single per-bed or per-room model that encompasses all the devices, apps, and services you will need to achieve desired outcomes.
Easy to Deploy. Using AI, cloud, and mobile technologies, our equipment autonomously communicates and validates itself without requiring human intervention, cutting deployment time from months to weeks and days.
Easy to Use. Breaking through static dashboards, our platform integrates ChatGPT to deliver answers in just seconds. Simple and human-centric in design, it’s laser focused on helping users solve their problems efficiently.
SMART BADGES ARE IDEAL FOR:
K-12 SCHOOLS
Rapid emergency response is critical for protecting school communities.
This one-touch badge allows personnel and staff to report threats like active shooters, intruder alerts, and disgruntled students from their classrooms or anywhere on school grounds.
STATE & LOCAL
Most government officials possess and wear identification lanyards to scan in and out of buildings and secure areas with little to no cell reception.
These Bluetooth badges can notify personnel of incidents through LED notifications and a buzzer mechanism.
HOSPITALS
Keep employees safe by discreetly informing them to notify security in an emergency.
Additionally, if patients are at risk of falling, these badges can be worn and utilized to inform nurses of needing help.
WEAPONS DETECTION
ZeroEyes connects to existing security cameras and monitors streaming video feeds looking for firearms.
The AI image classification system processes thousands of images per second and immediately notifies trained personnel in the ZeroEyes Operation Center if an image appears to contain a firearm.
ZeroEyes software analyzes over 36,000 images per second from security camera video feeds and alerts authorities within seconds if a firearm is detected.
DETECTION - ZeroEyes connects to existing security cameras and monitors streaming video feeds for firearms. The AI image classification system processes thousands of images per second and immediately notifies trained personnel in the ZeroEyes Operation Center if an image appears to contain a firearm.
VERIFICATION - All ZeroEyes firearm detections are reviewed immediately by a technician in the ZOC (ZeroEyes Operations Center). Technicians only review images in which suspected firearms are detected.
RESPONSE - Once a technician verifies a suspected firearm, ZeroEyes systems immediately (often within 3-5 seconds) notify facility administrators and law enforcement, who are told the number and location of suspected shooters.
GUNFIRE DETECTION
Shooter Detection Systems empowers communities, workplaces to deploy gunshot detection to increase safety. SDS was created to assist in reducing the growing threat from indoor shooting incidents.
Schools, malls, airports, government and private buildings have all experienced increased shooting incidents over the last few years. In many of these cases, the delay in the time it took to accurately report and locate the shooter has lead to unfortunate consequences.
The SDS Indoor Gunshot Detection System simultaneously detects gunfire and relays this information via a floor plan map, text and email with shot location. System/Sensor maintenance alerts can also be programmed to go to specific individuals via text and email.
Additional modules can be configured to automate security and notification systems such as building alarms, lights/strobes, video, access control, computer-aided police dispatch (CAD), etc.
Guardian sensors can be installed into existing building infrastructure through a flush wall/ceiling or surface mount for impenetrable structures.
Guardian’s core technology was developed in conjunction with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and by a major defense contractor who has deployed over 10,000 military-grade gunshot detection systems to Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe.
These systems have saved many American and NATO Soldier’s lives. This same capability is now available to the commercial market through SDS and the system configuration is fully scalable to the area of desired coverage.
TARGETED RESPONSE
Within one second of the sensor detecting a gunshot, the system alerts law enforcement and others (as determined by the client) of the gunshot.
For staff and employees, an alert can be sent to their mobile phone and/or their computer.
In both cases, the alert shows where and when the gunshot was detected.
For example: “Shot fired. First Floor Cafeteria. 12:36 PM.”
A digital version of the organization’s floor plan can immediately be called onto the screen of computers. These reports are customizable, allowing staff to show where the gunshot is in relation to the surrounding area.
The report can then be sent to law enforcement; this gives them the advantage of knowing the precise location of the attack.
K-12 Public Address Intercom
Bell/Clock/Emergency Notification Solution
Valcom school communication solutions provide high-quality audio, efficient daily communications, emergency notification, & manageability.
Connect your existing devices and infrastructure to provide a modern unified daily and emergency school intercom system.
DYNAMIC ENDPOINTS FOR PAGING, ALERTING, & SECURE DOOR ENTRY
Deploying IP Endpoints in Education
Learn how Algo IP Endpoint can be enhance a schools voice paging, alerting, an, emergency notification communication for teachers and students.
Major Universities using Nice CXOne for Self-Service & AI
Use Cases for Intelligent Virtual Assistants (IVA's)
IVA's help in Meeting Gen Z Expectations in Higher Education
As Gen Z enters higher education, their expectations for fast, digital-first support are driving universities to adopt intelligent virtual assistants, called "IVA's" as cost-effective self-service tools that improve the overall student experience.
Automate Student Self-Serve – IVA's provide familiar, self-service support through chat interfaces, reducing reliance on agents while guiding students with text, images, videos, or links.
Route Students to the Right Agent – By collecting upfront info, IVA's can route students to the best resource or department, reducing frustration and building trust.
Offer 24/7 Availability – AI-powered IVA's can handle most queries outside normal hours, delivering immediate, round-the-clock support.
Free Agents for Complex Issues – With bots handling routine requests, staff can focus on sensitive matters like mental health and personalized student engagement.
Simplify Appointments & Bookings – Chatbots automate scheduling for study rooms, counseling, and admissions, reducing stress and making access easier.
Takeaway: IVA's help universities improve service, reduce costs, and deliver the instant, personalized, and always-available support that Gen Z expects.
8x8 & Local Government
Local Texas government is putting in place capabilities and processes that support new workflows, new
ways of working, new ways of engaging with constituents and new ways of delivering services.
8x8 offers an easy way around the normal Request for Proposal, or "RFP" process by working with one of the many approved purchasing co-ops.
8x8's X Series licenses brings voice, video, chat, contact center, APIs, integration to Microsoft Teams, and more along with advanced analytics that track call activity to provide feedback on how they are doing.