New York City launched a first-of-its-kind pilot program that directly links public schools with 911 services for faster emergency response in active shooter situations.
Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser on Monday announced the rollout of the new Emergency Alert System, developed by the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, during an event at the Spring Creek campus in Brooklyn, the first school building in the country with direct 911 integration.
The pilot, launching this school year, will expand to 25 school buildings citywide, covering 51 public schools across all five boroughs.
“Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity and the key to delivering for working-class families, because our students deserve to feel safe in school, our parents must know their children are in a secure environment, and our teachers should have the confidence to focus on shaping young minds,” Adams said in a statement.
The system creates a direct, automated pathway for schools to alert 911 during a hard lockdown involving a weapon-based threat, enabling dispatchers to respond in less than 10 seconds.
EAS can be activated through fixed buttons or wireless lanyards within school buildings, instantly notifying 911 dispatchers while triggering audible and visual alerts on campus. The system also sends electronic notifications to NYPD School Safety and NYC Public Schools officials.
The system’s dashboard provides real-time data to both law enforcement and school administrators during an emergency.
“There is nothing more important than the safety of our young people," said New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. "Today’s announcement adds another layer of security in our schools and offers peace of mind to our school communities in a worst-case scenario."
The new system strengthens the city’s commitment to student and staff safety as part of its ongoing public safety strategy, officials said. According to the K–12 School Shooting Database, the U.S. recorded more than 1,900 school shooting incidents between 2015 and September 2025, with record highs in 2023 and 2024.
