There are many responsibilities that Superintendents have. They range from the budget to facilities to transportation and so on. However, none of these responsibilities rise to the level of importance as safety. Last year, there were 336 school shooting incidents resulting in 276 instances where someone was wounded or killed. Sadly, this is the second highest total since the tracking of these statistics began in 1966. So what should schools be doing now and what is coming?
For district leaders, staying ahead of evolving safety expectations is not only a moral obligation; It’s also a growing compliance challenge. Understanding new requirements early allows districts to plan, budget, and align policies proactively rather than reactively.
This year, Michigan State Legislators passed a series of bills to assist schools in keeping kids safe at school. We will do a quick review of these bills and what this means for your school.
House Bills 5450 and 5451: Nationally, 70% of school shootings involve a firearm owned by a parent or close family member (article statistic). These bills require schools to distribute information developed by the Department of Health and Human Services on the safe storage of firearms. Additionally, families can reach out to their local health department or this site Project ChildSafe for a free gun lock. Schools are required to distribute this information to parents by October 1st annually beginning this school year. If you have not done so already, you can find the notice here.
Districts should also review whether existing board policies clearly outline communication expectations, timelines, and documentation practices related to these annual notices — areas where policy gaps can unintentionally create compliance risk.
House Bills 4095 and 4096: These bills mandate that all Michigan schools use a standardized emergency terminology, developed by Michigan State Police (MSP), such as “lockdown” and “secure mode”. The purpose of these bills is to create uniformity across the state to provide efficiency and interagency clarity in emergency response situations. Michigan schools will have to implement the terminology changes, if necessary, in the 2026/27 school year.
As districts prepare for this transition, now is an ideal time to audit emergency response policies, staff handbooks, and training materials to enhance alignment across documents before implementation deadlines approach.
House Bill 5549: This bill requires all public and nonpublic schools to establish Behavior Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) teams. These teams will help identify students who may pose a higher risk to themselves or others. These teams must be multi-disciplinary. Schools must also provide training, reporting systems, and support plans. These teams must be established by October 1st, 2026.
BTAM requirements often intersect with existing student discipline, mental health, and reporting policies. Districts that proactively align these areas are better positioned to implement teams smoothly and demonstrate due diligence if concerns arise.
Lastly, be sure to keep your board policy updated so that your district is in compliance with state and federal law. Neola board policy 8400—and related safety and student support policies—can help provide districts with structured, up-to-date guidance and reduce uncertainty as new legislation takes effect.
Additional Neola Policies and Administrative Guidelines that are relevant and helpful to review include:
- Po8400 – School Safety
- Po8402 – Emergency Operations Plan
- Po8420 – Emergency Situations at School
- Po8142.01 – Weapons
There is no greater responsibility for a school than to keep those in its charge safe. Being aware of the law and your responsibilities can help keep kids safe and the district out of harm’s way.
If your district is unsure whether current policies fully reflect Michigan’s new safety legislation, Neola can help. Our policy experts monitor legislative changes, provide compliant policy updates, and partner with districts to provide clarity, consistency, and confidence.
To learn more about how Neola provides Michigan districts with legally vetted language addressing safety, compliance, and board policy alignment, contact us or schedule a policy review today.