School safety has become the priority in school design and construction given that students do not learn to the best of their ability when they do not feel safe and secure. Additionally, some state legislatures have stepped in and passed laws governing school design and construction following some of the more high-profile school shootings in recent years. This is welcomed by the education community as well as the families who send their children to school each day with the expectation that they will learn and be kept safe from harm.
High-profile school shootings, and the fear they spread, are shaping how architects design the modern American school. The safety features, some required by state law, include measures meant to keep armed perpetrators out and to help first responders.
