On Monday 4/6/26, Chris Joffe, Founder and CEO of Joffe Emergency Services, presented an overview of how schools are investing in safety and where critical gaps remain.
School safety spending has grown to $3.5B nationally, up from $1B in 2013, largely following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Most funds are directed toward security personnel and physical technology, with 92% of spending focused on execution and only 8% on strategy and planning.
Current investments often prioritize emergency communication systems, which receive significantly more funding than the planning behind their use. Training and drills remain underfunded, despite staff being the most immediate first responders. Mental health, a key prevention strategy, accounts for just 12% of spending, even though most threats show warning signs in advance. Consulting and planning represent the smallest share, yet were identified as the most critical need.
Public and charter schools allocate roughly 63% of safety budgets to safety staffing and technology. Private and independent schools spend closer to 50%, with comparatively higher investment in planning and advisory services. Per-student spending on safety ranges from $50 to $170 annually, with private schools spending approximately three times more per student than public schools.
Joffe’s “Swiss Cheese” approach to effective safety systems relies on multiple layers of protection rather than any single solution. Common layers include visitor management systems, security personnel, and surveillance. Each layer reduces risk but also introduces new vulnerabilities, requiring thoughtful design and coordination.
The most effective step for schools is to designate a single safety lead, or “lightning rod,” responsible for coordination and accountability in an emergency. This role should be supported by a safety committee comprising senior leadership, health staff, and security personnel, with consideration of student and family input. Board-level risk management committees remain uncommon and are often focused on financial or compliance issues rather than proactive safety strategy.
Resources
- Vector Solutions (formerly Safe Schools) video training platform covering emergency policies, HR, ICS modules https://vectorsolutions.com/about-us/acquisitions/safeschools/
- Webinar replay: (4/6) Locked Doors, Open Gaps: Rethinking How Schools Spend On Safety or Listen on Spotify
