The Missouri School Boards’ Association’s Center for Education Safety is aware that some Missouri school districts have been directly contacted by vendors for school safety services surrounding Senate Bill 68.
In those communications, districts were told there was an urgent end-of-year deadline and that they would be “out of compliance” with Senate Bill 68 if they did not act quickly. This statement is inaccurate and made without the knowledge or approval of MSBA or CES.
What You Need to Know
No new end-of-year deadline has been issued by DESE, MSBA or CES.
There has been no statewide requirement or CES directive creating a new, immediate “end of year” compliance deadline for school emergency operations plans. DESE is working on guidance and hopes to have that guidance published by January 1, 2026.Compliance is not tied to any one vendor or product.
Missouri school districts can meet Senate Bill 68 school safety expectations in a variety of ways. Purchasing a particular service or platform from any specific company is not required for compliance.High-pressure or fear-based sales tactics are not endorsed by CES.
The approach used in these recent communications does not reflect the values, standards, or expectations of MSBA or the Center for Education Safety.
What to Do if You Received One of These Messages
If your district received a communication suggesting an urgent end-of-year emergency operations planning deadline or implying you must use a specific vendor to remain compliant, you may:
Disregard any claims of a new universal “end-of-year” compliance deadline
Contact CES directly if you have questions about communication or your district’s emergency operations planning status, or requirements
Share the communication with CES if you would like us to review it
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the MSBA Center for Education Safety so we can provide clear, accurate information tailored to your district’s situation.