Raptor Technologies

09/03/2026

What makes a conference worth attending?

It’s not the swag or the hotel.

It’s walking into a room full of peers who understand the job—and walking out with practical advice you can put to work right away.

That’s what awaits you at the Raptor SchoolSAFE 2026 Conference, November 2–4 in Orlando.

Here are five reasons this is the conference you do not want to miss:

🔸 A network of professionals to connect with and a community to build.
🔸 A conference designed for every seat at the safety table.
🔸 Sessions built around roles and scenarios.
🔸 Speakers with real perspectives that matter, including keynote Elizabeth Smart.
🔸 A reset period for busy school professionals.

“It’s nice to be able to come sit down in a room and collaborate with people who think similarly and are very focused on school safety. And that alone just gives me hope. That’s a pretty powerful thing to say—that a conference can give you hope,” is what Marti Neahring loved about last year's conference.

📎 Register for by October 2 and join a group of dedicated leaders striving to create a safer path to learning on every campus: https://bit.ly/3GdKi2m

09/02/2026

September is National Su***de Prevention Month, a time to build on the progress schools are already making in supporting student mental health.

That momentum is the focus of the newest episode of the Podcast, featuring returning guests Chris and Martha Thomas of The Defensive Line .

Chris and Martha will reflect on how far the conversation around youth su***de prevention has come since their first appearance three years ago, and share what they have learned about helping students trust the adults around them.

Listen in to understand how schools can move prevention beyond a single month and make it part of everyday culture, all year long.

Subscribe to School Safety Today and catch the new episode on September 8.

09/01/2026

New legislation and funding are creating real opportunities for districts to strengthen school safety this year. Here is what to have on your radar:

🎯 LEGISLATION:

→ West Virginia House Bill 3166: HB 3166 requires each county board of education to create standardized school safety mapping data. Raptor’s integration with CRG maps supports HB 3166 compliance.

Effective September 1, 2026.

→ Illinois House Bill 5107 (Alyssa’s Law): permits school districts and private schools across the state to consider the use of a mobile panic alert system by the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year. If adopted, the systems must meet the rules to be developed by the Illinois State Police as well as specified capabilities.

→ Michigan House Bills 4095 and 4096: HBs 4095 and 4096 require public and nonpublic schools to implement the Standardized Response Terminology (SRT) described in HB 4096. Raptor’s Emergency Management Software supports the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation which is compliant with the SRT established in Michigan.

Effective date: 2026-2027 school year.

→ Michigan House Bill 5549: HB 5549 requires school boards, boards of directors, and school governing bodies to ensure each school under their jurisdiction has a behavior threat assessment and management team in place by the deadline.

Compliance deadline: October 1, 2026.

→ Iowa House Bill 835: HB 835 requires all public and accredited nonpublic school personnel to be trained to recognize seizures and respond with appropriate first aid. Staff responsible for student supervision must complete this training every two years.

Compliance deadline: December 31, 2026

→North Carolina Senate Bill 257: SB 257 allocates 4M for cardiac emergency response training and AEDs in each NC public school. It also includes requirements for CPR and AED training, annual drills, school mapping, and more.

Effective date: September 29, 2026


🎯FUNDING:

→ Pennsylvania FY26-27 Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program: Eligible nonprofits can use this funding to purchase safety and security equipment, security technology, training, and threat assessments.

Deadline to apply: September 10, 2026.

→ Pennsylvania FY26-27 School Safety & Mental Health Grants: Eligible school entities can use this funding for visitor ID systems, threat assessment teams, training, conducting emergency drills, and more.

Deadline to apply: October 16, 2026

→ Maryland FY27 Safe Schools Fund Grant (SSFG): Maryland districts can apply SSFG funding toward school safety related projects and services, including visitor management systems, security software, anonymous reporting, and training.

Deadline to apply: September 30, 2026.

→ Georgia FY27 School Security Grant: Georgia public schools can apply funding toward security enhancements including personal panic devices, school mapping, professional services and physical security site improvements.

Funds will be distributed in 12 equal monthly installments through GaDOE's Grants Accounting System (GAORS).

→ Minnesota Building & Cyber Security Grant Program: Eligible LEAs can leverage this funding for access control, emergency communication, and violence prevention and security modifications.

Deadline to apply: August 31, 2026

Explore school safety funding and legislation by state: https://bit.ly/33PFlt4

08/31/2026

Every school year begins with new faces: new teachers, new staff, sometimes an entirely new safety team. That is exactly where readiness begins.

In a conversation with Raptor's David Rogers, Pat Hamilton of The "I Love U Guys" Foundation draws a clear line between knowing a protocol and being ready to use it. Readiness means seasoned and new staff can act without hesitation through training, practice, and drills until it becomes second nature.

Watch on demand: https://bit.ly/4fPwURd

08/26/2026

Substitute teachers are often the last group considered in emergency planning, even though they may be the only adults in the room when something happens.

In this episode of , Principals of Change podcast, Dr. Emily Dunker joins Dr. Amy Grosso to share her research on preparing substitutes for emergencies, drawing on her own past experiences as a substitute teacher.

Dr. Dunker breaks down how intentional training, consistent messaging, and a real sense of belonging help substitutes step into that responsibility with confidence.

Catch the full conversation: https://bit.ly/3Rvuvlr

08/24/2026

Join Chris Porter and Joe Talaiver from Vivi for a closer look at Raptor Badge Alert, including the latest enhancements, new badge options, and how integration with Vivi extends emergency communication to classroom and campus displays.

Wednesday, August 26, at 12:00 pm CT, with live Q&A.

See how Raptor Badge Alert and Vivi can help turn emergency notifications into clear, actionable communication: https://bit.ly/4zzzfrf

08/20/2026

Raptor Technologies addresses the school budget crisis by consolidating a broad range of safety functions into a single, affordable solution. Read the full announcement here:

The Raptor® School Safety Platform Addresses the School Budget Crisis by Consolidating a Broad Range of School Safety into a Single Solution.

08/18/2026

Alachua County Public Schools is strengthening school safety with Raptor Badge Alert, and we’re excited to be a part of their mission to keep their campuses safe and prepared.

Raptor Badge Alert makes it easy for staff to send an internal team alert for help or reach 911 directly when first responders and law enforcement are needed.

Watch WCJB TV20 News’ coverage to see it in action.

08/18/2026

School events bring added responsibilities beyond the typical school day.

Preparation makes all the difference. Before the event begins, staff and volunteers’ responsibilities are clear, a system to efficiently pre-screen guests is in place, digital ticketing is set up, and a clear plan for responding to any unexpected situation has been made. But that’s just the start.

Ready to strengthen your next school event?

Get our event safety checklist: https://bit.ly/43ZIzWq

08/13/2026

Silent panic alert systems are required in every Texas school, and Raptor Badge Alert is helping districts put that requirement into action.

KPRC2 / Click2Houston visited Deer Park ISD to see the system at work.

Raptor Badge Alert gives staff a discreet, fast way to call for help during medical emergencies, physical altercations, severe weather, or potential threats—with alerts routed directly to the appropriate response team and pinpointed by location.