New York City has introduced the nation’s first system directly linking public schools to 911 for rapid response during active shooter situations. Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser announced the pilot on Monday, October 27th at Brooklyn’s Spring Creek campus, the first U.S. school to feature this integration. The program will expand to 25 school buildings, covering 51 schools across all five boroughs during the 2025–2026 school year.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) allows schools to alert 911 in under 10 seconds using fixed buttons or wireless lanyards. The system bypasses traditional call routing, providing dispatchers with real-time information about the emergency. Simultaneously, schools receive audible and visual indicators confirming that 911 has been notified, and electronic notifications are sent to NYPD School Safety and New York City Public Schools officials.
Mayor Adams stated that “Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity and the key to delivering for working-class families,” noting that “every parent deserves to know their child is safe in school, and this system gives them that peace of mind.” He highlighted how the Emergency Alert System ensures rapid police response during emergencies, providing students, teachers, and families with added security.
CTO Fraser emphasized the system’s significance for families: “This brand-new Emergency Alert System, the nation’s first to directly integrate schools with 911 in a hard lockdown event, marks a crucial advance in our city’s broader school safety efforts and provides additional peace of mind — a priceless commodity — for the parents and families of students.”
The initiative builds on existing safety measures, including locked entrances, NYPD School Safety Agents, and emergency protocols. It follows years of research and development by the Office of Technology and Innovation, which collaborated with an external vendor to create a system tailored to New York City’s needs. With school shootings peaking nationwide in recent years, city officials highlighted the program as a proactive step to protect students, teachers, and staff.
