In sports, it’s often said that the best offense is a good defense. Regarding school safety, Kentucky has emerged as a national leader in playing defense—keeping our students, teachers, and school staff safe from evolving threats. With the start of the school year, Kentucky has seen a rise in online threats and hoaxes that disrupt learning and parents' working routines.
In today’s digital world, where social media amplifies danger, the Kentucky General Assembly has prioritized a proactive approach to school safety. Parents and educators alike share a deep-seated fear about the possibility of school shootings and other violent incidents. That’s why, over the past decade, Kentucky has put in place a defensive strategy—consider it a full-court press—designed to protect students inside the classroom from the genuine dangers outside of it.
Since 2019, Kentucky has strengthened school security with Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), passed in response to the Marshall County school shooting, SB 1 enhanced the partnership between the Kentucky Center for School Safety and the Department of Education, creating a safety marshal role and standardizing safety practices statewide. It funded school resource officers (SROs) and required key infrastructure upgrades, including electronic door locks, cameras, intercoms, and improved classroom door locks.
SB 1 recognized the importance of mental health in school safety, requiring schools to implement programs and train staff to address students' emotional challenges. By integrating mental health support, Kentucky aims to tackle the root causes of violence: prioritizing students' emotional well-being alongside physical safety.
SB 1 established clear protocols for information-sharing and emergency coordination between schools and law enforcement teams. It funded specialized training for SROs and staff, ensuring responders are prepared for crises.
2019 SB 1 added terroristic threats to include making false statements to prompt the evacuation of a school building, property, or activity. 2020 SB 8 clarified that schools could have an SRO at each campus, not necessarily at each school.
We enacted House Bill 63 in 2022. The bill allowed schools to form their own police departments, which opened opportunities for state and federal grants to fund SROs, the referees inside the school community.
In 2024, Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) introduced the Kentucky Guardian Program, adding trained volunteers or personnel as an extra layer of defense. SB 2 also integrated school psychologists, social workers, and mental health providers into a trauma-informed safety team to address students' unique challenges, creating a deep bench equipped to address these challenges. Today’s kids face immense social media pressures and isolation despite increased connectivity. Our school safety team offers crucial support and mentorship, acting as cheerleaders for students dealing with emotional challenges.
SB 2 introduced a comprehensive mapping system for improved communication on and off campus, providing essential info to first responders in emergencies. SB 11 complemented this by requiring superintendents to be notified if a student is charged with making a terrorist threat.
The best offense may be a good defense, but we’ve found that combining both is the winning strategy in Kentucky. Year after year, we’re keeping the pressure on to ensure that our schools remain places of learning, growth, and safety.
Sen Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, is an instructor at UK’s Patterson School of Diplomacy teaching intelligence, intelligence analysis, and terrorism studies.
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