NYC Schools Will Be First In Nation To Have Direct 911 Access In Active Shooter Threats

NEW YORK CITY — New York City has unveiled a new pilot program that would directly integrate some public schools with 911 services for life-saving rapid response in case of an active shooter situation.

Mayor Eric Adams made the announcement in Brooklyn on Monday.

The new Emergency Alert System is scheduled to be rolled out to a total of 25 school buildings, representing 51 public schools across the five boroughs, during the 2025-2026 school year.

EAS will provide an immediate, secure, and automated pathway for public schools to directly alert 911 of a critical emergency associated with a hard lockdown involving a weapon-based threat or active shooter situation, Adams said.

A panic button within the schools can initiate a police response in under 10 seconds, officials said.

"For the first time ever in our nation, a public school system will have direct integration with 911 services to ensure that help is on the way within seconds if there is ever an active shooter or weapon-based threat. Every parent deserves to know their child is safe in school, and this system gives them that peace of mind, the mayor added. "We’ve already taken more than 24,097 illegal guns off our streets, and now we’re making sure our classrooms have the strongest, fastest protection possible. This new Emergency Alert System will protect our students, teachers, and staff, making sure New York City Public Schools have the most secure line of defense possible to keep our schools safe.”

The EAS created by the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) will debut at the Spring Creek campus in Brooklyn.

When a panic button is pressed, a dispatcher will put the call over the air and the system’s dashboard will provide emergency responders with information on the school. The schools will have audible and visual indicators notifying students and faculty that 911 has been notified, and the school is on a hard lockdown.

Additionally, electronic notifications will be sent to NYPD School Safety and New York City Public Schools officials.

“This pilot builds on the robust safety measures already implemented in our schools, including the Safer Access Program, which locks main entrances to our buildings, NYPD School Safety Agents in every school, and emergency protocols that keep our schools safe. I am proud to take this step alongside our city partners to continue to prioritize the safety of our kids," New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said.