Law makes "mobile panic alert systems" in OK school districts mandatory
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A law that went into effect at the start of the 2024-2025 school year mandated school districts across Oklahoma to implement a mobile panic alert system. The legislation is called “Alyssa’s Law,” named after a victim in the Parkland, Florida school shooting.
The new alert system was used last week during a school shooting in Georgia. Two students and two teachers died in the shooting, but authorities believe more people could have died if it wasn’t for a teacher using the alert app to notify police.
Caryn Franson has grandchildren in Oklahoma public schools. She said she has heard of the law but has been worried it has not been enforced.
"There's a sense of sadness that they (kids) have to worry about that in school," said Franson.
News 4 reached out to several school districts across the metro including Oklahoma City, Moore, Edmond, Norman and Putnam City, to see how the new law affected safety protocols the districts already had in place.
Edmond said it implemented the Rave panic button system on all of its campuses last school year.
“We have trained all of our employees to use it in case of an emergency,” said the district in a statement.
At Putnam City, the district installed the Rave app years ago.
"Security's always on the forefront every single day," said AJ Graffeo, communications director for Putnam City Public Schools.
The only drawback was that downloading the app was voluntary for school staff.
"A lot of our teachers are choosing to sign up for it as an extra tool," said Graffeo.
Moore Public Schools said it was actively reviewing multiple providers whose services can enhance the safety measures already in place in the district, which are included in Alyssa’s Law.
“Reinforced safety and security measures at MPS for employees, students, and our facilities have been a focused priority for more than a decade. We appreciate our community’s support allowing us to focus on student safety and security,” said Moore School District in a statement.
Oklahoma City and Norman did not respond to our request for information on its protocol.