PASS Guidelines Offer Roadmap to Safer K-12 Schools

The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) continues to bring together leading experts to provide schools with the knowledge, tools, and guidance necessary to create safer learning environments.

The newly released seventh edition of the PASS school security guidelines presents a tiered approach to securing K-12 campuses, utilizing national best practices and effective resource allocation. Key updates include enhancements in video surveillance, access control, communications, and—for the first time—a new digital infrastructure layer that addresses cybersecurity and data privacy.

Beyond offering practical insights, the guidelines also help integrators explain security technologies to school stakeholders and elevate the role of security solutions in education safety. PASS Advisory Board members recently hosted a town hall to outline the latest revisions.

Strengthening Access Control

Access control remains the backbone of school security. The updated guidelines reinforce the recommendation that classroom doors stay “closed and locked at all times” and include a new door lock matrix offering guidance based on various school needs.

“This access control component is the central nervous system for a school district,” said Michael Garcia, K-12 End User Business Manager at HID Global and PASS Advisory Board member. “We want to command, contain, control, and communicate—delivering visualization and actionable intelligence across the district.”

The guidelines emphasize the importance of secure visitor entry areas—also known as secure vestibule entrances. PASS recommends a single point of entry and robust visitor management systems. Exterior doors should remain locked and be monitored, with clear signage directing all visitors to the appropriate entrance.

Visitors should use an intercom or phone system before gaining access, ideally with a video doorbell system that allows staff to see and speak to visitors before entry.

Unified Visitor Management

PASS Board Chair and ASSA ABLOY K-12 Security Program Manager Guy Grace stressed the importance of unifying visitor management. “By requiring visitors to check in, show ID, and wear a badge, schools can quickly identify everyone on campus and respond to threats,” he explained.

The guidelines recommend that all schools use a visitor badging system, with a preference for an Electronic Visitor Management System (EVMS). These systems can log who is entering the building, when, and why, and match visitors to the appropriate staff.

Many EVMS platforms include ID scanning and photo capture, with checks against the National Sex Offender Registry or criminal databases. “They can flag issues like restraining orders or custody disputes,” Grace added.

Expanding Video Surveillance

As video technology continues to evolve, PASS has expanded its guidance to include camera placement, fields of view, and classroom camera use. The seventh edition outlines operational goals, such as detection, observation, recognition, and identification, for each camera.

“We developed these guidelines for administrators who may not know what to prioritize,” said Jim Crumbley, President and CEO of Risk Response Team and PASS Board member.

Classroom cameras, although helpful, remain a source of controversy. Crumbley acknowledged concerns around privacy, access to recordings, and whether audio should be included. “They’re useful, but it’s essential to ensure compliance with legal standards and respect individual rights,” he noted.

PASS has also added recommendations for video analytics to help identify people or activities in areas like pickup/drop-off zones. “Analytics have improved and become more affordable,” Crumbley said. “We want schools to build on their video foundations and take advantage of them.”

Mobile Credentials: A Game Changer

Mobile credentialing, commonly used in higher education, is making its way into K-12 environments. PASS outlines how schools can safely implement this technology.

“Mobile credentials, combined with unified life safety systems and first responder door numbering, are a game changer,” Grace said. “They improve emergency response for law enforcement and EMS.”

He added that mobile credentials can also serve as incident command tools during campus-wide emergencies like lockdowns.

Introducing a Digital Infrastructure Layer

One of the most significant additions in the seventh edition is a digital infrastructure layer that addresses cybersecurity, data privacy, and overall digital hygiene. Will Knehr, Global Cybersecurity Advisor for i-PRO Americas, spearheaded this section.

“We started by focusing on cybersecurity, then broadened it to digital hygiene for all users—whether advanced or new to the topic,” Knehr explained. The move comes as K-12 schools face a rising number of cyberattacks. “Schools often have weaker cybersecurity and are prone to paying ransoms,” he said.

The guidelines align with the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) cybersecurity framework, but use simplified language and practical examples relevant to schools. “We’ve made it more accessible without compromising the integrity of the guidance,” Knehr said.

A Roadmap for Action

Each section of the PASS guidelines provides schools with a scalable approach that allows them to build toward higher levels of security as budgets and resources permit. From practical door-locking policies and visitor protocols to advanced video analytics and mobile command tools, the document is both a reference guide and a strategic plan.

Above all, the PASS guidelines continue to evolve as school threats and technologies change. The seventh edition reflects a growing understanding that safety is not just about hardware—it’s also about integration, collaboration, and adaptability.

As Grace summed it up: “These guidelines don’t just offer checkboxes. They provide a comprehensive vision for what safer schools can and should look like—today and in the future.”