PASS School Safety and Security Guidelines
The PASS School Safety and Security Guidelines are the most comprehensive information available on best practices specifically for securing K-12 school facilities, including elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. The PASS School Security Checklist allows you to assess the current state of safety and security efforts in your school or district compared to nationwide best practices.
The guidelines are free to download thanks to the efforts of volunteer contributors. The current seventh version of the PASS Guidelines was released in July 2025.
Complete the form below to also access the previous sixth edition of the Guidelines.
Access the PASS Guidelines
Upon completing the form below, you will receive an email from PASS allowing you to download the Guidelines document and the Checklist document. You will also receive future updates on the PASS Guidelines.
What the Guidelines Cover
The primary focuses of the PASS Guidelines are physical security and life safety, and recommendations are limited to related policies, procedures, equipment and technology. Modern and effective security infrastructure is an essential element of any comprehensive school safety and security strategy, but not the only element. When other prevention efforts fail, facility security measures are critical to protection, mitigation and response. The Guidelines do not address every risk and every situation and, importantly, do not include product-specific recommendations.
Why Use the PASS Guidelines
- Support School Risk Assessments
- Develop School Safety & Security Plans
- Avoid Common School Safety & Security Pitfalls
- Inform Standards Development
- Strengthen School Grant Proposals & Bond Measures
Who the Guidelines Are For
While the PASS School Safety and Security Guidelines provide best practices designed primarily for the team responsible for the safety and security of individual schools and entire school districts, the Guidelines are also useful for interested community members, legislators, researchers and others with a focus or interest in improving K-12 school safety and security.
What’s new in the Seventh Edition PASS Guidelines?
The seventh edition release – including updates to the Safety and Security Guidelines and the School Safety and Security Checklist – improves on previous versions of the PASS guidance to make it more comprehensive, easier to use, and more reflective of K-12 schools’ evolving security needs and challenges. There are many new features in the seventh edition of the PASS Guidelines, including the following significant updates:
Introduction of a New Digital Infrastructure Layer
The new digital infrastructure layer recognizes the importance of cybersecurity and attentive management of digital systems and data. This takes a converged approach to security, dramatically expanding PASS beyond its previous primary focus on physical security.
Unification of the Property Perimeter and Parking Lot Layers Into the New Campus Perimeter Layer
The many volunteer school security experts involved with PASS recognized that these layers are interconnected and more efficiently approached from a unified safety standpoint.
Detailed Guidance on Visitor Entry
In addition to traffic-flow diagrams and example floor plans, this edition also provides extensive coverage of aspects such as visitor management processes, which can introduce vulnerability without proper attention to detail.
Greater Content on Physical Hardening
From topics like door construction and window glazings to security film and reinforcement of classroom walls, the Seventh Edition Guidelines add greater depth of content on aspects of physical hardening (using security-focused design, construction, and equipment to make the physical environment more resistant to threats) than previous editions.
Expanded Information on Panic Alarm Systems
As panic alarm systems have gained value through innovation and have continued to prove helpful in school emergencies, the newest edition adds guidance on this vital and evolving solution.
In-Depth Coverage of Door Locks and Door Devices
Properly locking doors is an essential component in a school, and this version covers the complexities of school-specific lock requirements with great nuance.
Each successive layer provides specific components to deter, detect or delay adversarial behaviors in the event that other layers are bypassed or breached.
Each layer includes basic protective elements, or components, of safety and security. The PASS Guidelines focus on the following safety and security components:
- Policies and Procedures
- People (roles and training)
- Communication
- Architectural
- Access Control
- Video Surveillance
- Detection and Alarms
- Transportation
- Cybersecurity
- Network Infrastructure
- Visitor Management
DISCLAIMER: The Safety and Security Guidelines for K‑12 Schools (the “Guidelines”) are provided for informational purposes only. Under no circumstances do the contributors to this document and the organizations participating in the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) provide any related guarantees or accept liability for any loss or damage resulting from any person acting or refraining from acting on this information. The Guidelines are not a substitute for legal, financial, or other professional advice to address the specific facts and circumstances related to the implementation of a particular school safety or security measure or program.
PRIVACY NOTICE: PASS and the contributors to this document do not collect, store, or process any personal or sensitive information through the distribution of these Guidelines. Individuals and organizations accessing or sharing this document online should be aware that digital platforms, websites, or third‑party services may collect data in accordance with their own privacy policies. PASS is not responsible for the security, privacy practices, or data‑handling activities of any external websites, cloud services, or online platforms used to obtain or distribute the Guidelines. Users should exercise caution and follow their organization’s data governance and cybersecurity practices when accessing or disseminating this information online.
DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT: While reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards are commonly used by reputable online platforms to help protect data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or misuse, no system can guarantee absolute security. Users are encouraged to review the privacy and security policies of any website or service they use to access the Guidelines to ensure that appropriate protections are in place.