This guide will cover what US federal school safety laws are, their history, the differences between federal and state laws, and how to ensure proper compliance with them.
Federal school safety laws in the US are rules, policies, and regulations designed to make schools safer for students, faculty, and staff. These laws tackle common issues in schools such as mental health awareness, emergency preparedness, bullying, firearm violence, and more. School safety legislations were created in response to widespread challenges faced by communities across the US. By establishing federal laws, the government sets a baseline safety standard nationwide, allowing states to implement additional, more specific regulations as needed.
School safety has always been a priority, but it became a national issue in the 1970s. During that time, concerns about juvenile crime and drug use grew, especially with the government’s War on Drugs. This led to laws banning drugs on school premises, such as the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act.
However, the problem didn’t stop there. Violence in schools increased, and during the 1990s, the media popularized the “superpredators” trope, portraying a wave of teen crime. In response, the government passed the federal Gun-Free Schools Act in 1994, requiring schools to expel anyone who brought firearms or weapons to campus.
Since then, schools have enforced strict punishments for discrimination, tardiness, and defiant behavior. More federal laws have then been created and passed, aiming to tackle other risks to school safety.
In the US, laws exist at both the national (or federal) and state levels. While both levels may receive federal funding, their laws and regulations can differ significantly. State laws vary from state to state because each state has its own priorities. For example, a major concern in California may not be a significant issue in Florida.
Federal laws typically set a baseline or benchmark that states must follow. Following this, states can then add to these laws, expand on them, or create more detailed regulations based on their needs.
For example, New Jersey has one of the strictest anti-bullying laws in the country: the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (ABR), enforced in 2011. Under this law, all forms of bullying must be reported. Each school is also required to appoint an Anti-Bullying Specialist and an Anti-Bullying Coordinator. Schools must report bullying incidents annually to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJ DOE), which grades them based on compliance. These grades are then posted publicly on the school’s website.
At the federal level, laws such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect students with disabilities from bullying and discrimination. These laws require schools receiving federal funding to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. While they also address bullying, they do so from a broader civil rights perspective rather than the detailed, statewide approach seen in New Jersey.
In some cases, bullying may overlap with discriminatory harassment, which falls under federal civil rights laws enforced by the US Departments of Education and Justice.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is one of the most well-known examples of federal school safety and accountability laws. It aimed to increase accountability in public schools by requiring them to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets, eventually expecting 100% proficiency in core subjects. If a school failed to meet those goals, it faced sanctions or corrective actions.
Over time, however, both teachers and parents criticized NCLB’s strict, test-focused approach. The heavy emphasis on standardized testing created pressure without always improving student outcomes, leading to psychological distress. In response, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replaced NCLB, shifting more power to states and local communities. ESSA reduced the emphasis on testing and allowed school administrators and teachers to focus more on ensuring long-term student success and overall school improvement.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title IV-A, also known as the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program, is a federal grant designed to help schools provide students with a safer, more well-rounded education. This includes access to college and career guidance, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, accelerated learning opportunities, and more. SSAE funds can also support professional development for teachers and provide advanced tools or digital learning resources, especially in rural or underserved communities. Initiatives promoting and ensuring safe students are also supported under this act, as it considered student safety a priority and essential to their learning experience.
Another important piece of federal legislation is the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA), which is also part of Title IV of ESEA. This law aims to protect school environments by keeping violence, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco off school grounds. Under this, teachers and school administrators must implement measures to ensure learning grounds are safe at all times, and beyond the classroom walls. It also supports initiatives like creating safe travel routes for students and increasing police presence around schools to enhance security.
The US Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) help schools stay on track with federal safety laws. They provide funding, resources, and guidance for schools to build strong safety programs. This includes everything from mental health support and trauma services to violence prevention and emergency planning.
One major way schools stay compliant is through federal grants. These grants help cover the costs of important safety practices such as surveillance systems, safety training for staff, or developing emergency procedures. In return, schools are expected to show how the funds are being used to meet safety standards.
Regular inspections also play a key role. Each year, schools are assessed to ensure they’re creating an inclusive environment for both students and staff while meeting essential safety standards. When serious safety issues arise, schools are required to coordinate with local police, juvenile justice systems, and social services. These partnerships ensure that everyone is aligned and prepared to take swift, effective action when needed.
Streamlining School Safety with Tech
As a school often houses hundreds of students, plus faculty and staff, staying compliant with all safety regulations can be challenging, especially when relying on federal funding. On top of that, it takes significant time and resources for federal government agencies to inspect every school. That’s where the use of technological advances can help. Digital solutions can streamline these inspections, audits, and training, making the process faster, easier, and paper-free.
Take the Fontana Unified School District for example, this district has 45 different schools. How would they be able to manage all of that, especially after shutting down during the pandemic? They pulled it off with the help of Mitti (by SafetyCulture). Using its real-time tracking system, they kept tabs on all 45 schools. That meant asset management, safety inspections, health checkups, and more were all handled digitally. They could even identify which schools were struggling and provide extra training or resources where needed.
The same goes for the Hamwic Education Trust —a multi-academy trust with 31 schools across the south coast of England. Keeping up with statutory compliance across all those campuses is no small task, especially when safety is the top priority. You’d normally have to physically check every school, building, and classroom to make sure everything’s up to standard. With Mitti (by SafetyCulture), they were able to monitor compliance at a glance—saving time, money, and stress.
Mitti (by SafetyCulture) is a mobile-first operations platform adopted across industries such as manufacturing, mining, construction, retail, and hospitality. It’s designed to equip leaders and working teams with the knowledge and tools to do their best work—to the safest and highest standard.
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