Overholdelse av Georgias skolesikkerhetslov: En veiledning for ledere i grunnskolen og videregående skole

In April 2025, Governor Brian Kemp signed Georgia House Bill 268—the School Safety Act—into law, setting a new statewide standard for school safety and crisis response. Taking effect on July 1, 2026, the legislation mandates that public schools implement comprehensive safety protocols designed to protect students, enhance emergency preparedness, and build stronger communication networks between schools, families, and first responders.

As the compliance deadline approaches, districts must prioritize planning, collaboration, and implementation. The central question is: How can schools meet HB 268’s safety requirements without disrupting their focus on student well-being and academic engagement?

Why Georgia Took Action

The School Safety Act was introduced to address growing concerns around student safety, school violence, and the need for faster emergency response systems. HB 268 requires every district to put in place a range of protective measures that combine real-time communication, behavioral monitoring, and community coordination. Under HB 268, Georgia districts must:

• Establish a mobile panic alert system that connects school staff to emergency responders instantly.
• Offer a statewide anonymous reporting system for threats, bullying, self-harm, and other safety concerns.
• Form behavioral threat assessment teams to evaluate and respond to students at risk.
• Maintain comprehensive school safety plans in coordination with law enforcement and mental health professionals.
• Enhance parental engagement and communication around safety and student well-being.

How Lightspeed Systems Supports HB 268 Compliance

To help Georgia schools meet the requirements of the School Safety Act and create a safer learning environment, Lightspeed Systems offers an integrated suite of K–12-specific safety tools:

Lightspeed StopIt™

Lightspeed StopIt empowers students, staff, and families to report concerns anonymously—whether it’s bullying, threats, self-harm, or other safety issues. Submissions are instantly routed to designated school personnel, enabling quick two-way communication and fast, documented responses. For example, a student can anonymously report a peer in distress, alerting counselors before a situation escalates.

Lightspeed Alert™

Lyshastighetsvarsling continuously monitors students’ online activity to identify early warning signs of violence, self-harm, or crisis behavior. Trained specialists review flagged alerts in real time and escalate serious concerns to district safety teams. For example, if a student searches for content indicating potential self-harm, school officials are immediately notified, supporting timely intervention and behavioral threat assessments.

Lightspeed Notify™

Lightspeed Notify allows staff to initiate emergency alerts with the tap of a button, sending instant notifications to security teams and administrators. Each alert includes critical incident context and a precise location, helping responders act faster and with better situational awareness during a crisis.

Lightspeed also strengthens family involvement in school safety through detailed reporting, access to a curated library of district-approved safety resources, and a direct channel for submitting concerns. This visibility builds trust and reinforces the shared responsibility of protecting students.

Building a Safer Future, Together 

HB 268 sets a high bar for school safety—and with the right technology and partnerships, it’s a bar Georgia districts can confidently meet. Lightspeed Systems provides schools with the tools they need to respond faster, act smarter, and stay connected to the communities they serve.

As schools prepare for the July 1, 2026 compliance deadline, Lightspeed stands ready to help. Together, we can turn these mandates into meaningful action—and create a safer, more supportive environment for every student.