State Releases Annual Kentucky School Safety Report
On August 28, the Kentucky Office of the State School Security Marshal released the annual School Safety Risk Assessment Report, which shows 99.81% of Kentucky’s schools are following statutory safety requirements. The report shows that 1,325 schools are in compliance with the School Safety and Resiliency Act.
Since Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 63 in 2022, every Kentucky public school is required to employ a school resource officer (SRO) and the number of SROs assigned to school campuses has increased to 790. This is a 28% increase over the last year and a 61% increase since the bill was signed into law.
“All Kentucky families deserve to have their children and loved ones go to school each day and not worry about their safety in the classroom,” said Gov. Beshear. “This report shows that Kentucky’s schools are serious about safety, and both as Governor and as a dad, I am thankful for the work school officials have committed to getting us where we are today.”
To assist schools in reaching compliance with mandated security measures, Gov. Beshear included $18.2 million in the 2020 state budget to help fund needed improvements.
The Office of the State School Security Marshal is required by law to conduct annual unannounced visits to all public schools to verify compliance with state-mandated security measures and SRO requirements. This year’s annual report states that schools are complying with statutorily mandated access control requirements regarding electronic-locking front doors, surveillance, locked classroom doors, classroom-window coverings and a threat-assessment team.
This year, the Beshear administration transferred SRO training from the Department of Criminal Justice Training to the Office of the State School Security Marshal. This transition allowed SRO training to occur regionally during the summer, which means SROs do not have to leave their school unstaffed to complete training during the upcoming school year.
“Once again, Kentucky’s schools have shown their commitment to keeping students and teachers safe,” said State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox. “Our school resource officers have done an excellent job obtaining their certification to be the first line of defense and keep harm away from our children. On behalf of Kentucky’s parents, I thank them for their work and the dedication they show every day.”
Kentuckians are encouraged to report information that may cause harm to schools to the STOP! Tipline at 866-393-6659 or safeschools.ky.gov. For additional resources on how to further protect children, watch this video on the Handle with Care Program.
The Beshear-Coleman administration’s top priority is the safety of all Kentuckians. The Governor's public safety actions are creating safer communities and a better Kentucky. Since taking office at the end of 2019, the Beshear-Coleman administration has consistently demonstrated their commitment to the safety of Kentucky’s children while on campus and in the classroom.
As an education-first administration, the Beshear-Coleman administration is dedicated to providing resources that provide safe, effective education to all of Kentucky’s children. To read more about the Governor’s public education priorities, click here. To read more about how the administration’s Better Kentucky Plan includes improving schools, click here.
Gov. Beshear has also supported training for local law enforcement officers by raising the current training stipend to an all-time high, and the state supported the construction of a new training facility in Richmond.
Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has awarded nearly $10 million in grant funding to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in purchasing the tools and resources that will not only allow them to protect Kentucky communities but will also ensure their safety as they stand on the front lines every day. In August 2023, the administration awarded $2.1 million in grant funding to enhance public safety, curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction.
Last year, Gov. Beshear signed into law House Bill 380, expanding the eligibility of potential peace officers to include individuals who are not yet 21 but will reach this statutory requirement by the time certification is completed to help law enforcement agencies expand their workforce.
Editor’s Note: Assessment results from individual school districts will not be released and are protected under the law. Publication of data identifying an incomplete safety measure could put school staff and students at unnecessary risk while they work toward full compliance with the law. Pursuant to KRS 61.878 (m)(1)(b), certain public records are exempted from inspection except on order of court, to include, public records the disclosure of which would have a reasonable likelihood of threatening the public safety by exposing a vulnerability in preventing, protecting against, mitigating or responding to a terrorist act and includes vulnerability assessments, antiterrorism protective measures and plans, and security and response needs assessments.