Act 44 Information

On January 5, 2026, Act 44 of 2025 went into effect, amending the Public School Code to require school districts to directly notify parents/guardians and school employees within 24 hours when a student is found in possession of a weapon, or in some cases, a weapon look-alike, on school property, at a school-sponsored activity, or on school transportation. This includes accidental incidents (i.e., a student goes camping over the weekend and, upon arriving at school, realizes a pocket knife was left in their coat and immediately turns it in) and may also include look-alike incidents (a student brings a Nerf gun to school).

The safety and security of our students and staff, and communication and transparency with our stakeholders, are critically important to us. We have always worked to communicate incidents promptly and effectively, and we will continue to do so with these new guidelines in place. We understand that families may have questions about the communications, and we believe the following information may be helpful.

When will I receive a notification?

If an incident occurs on a single school campus (such as Shrewsbury Elementary School or Friendship Elementary School), notifications will be specific to the parents/guardians of students and employees of that building. If the school shares a campus with other buildings (such as on our main campus), or if the incident occurs during a school-sponsored event or transportation, notifications will be sent to all parents/guardians and employees assigned to any building on that campus. (For this reason, families who previously only received notifications regarding their child’s school building may now see an increase in notifications.)

What will the notifications include?

If your child was not the involved student, you will receive a general notification. General notifications will not include personally identifiable information about students. They will identify the type of weapon involved, the school building where the incident occurred, and the general steps taken by the district. Please understand that due to privacy requirements, we may not be able to disclose details about the student’s classroom, grade, or specific disciplinary consequences.

Detailed notifications will be provided to the parents/guardians of the student involved and relevant school employees.

Beyond the notifications, how will the district handle these incidents?
As always, the district will immediately work to ensure student safety, secure the weapon, investigate the incident, promptly report the incident to law enforcement and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as required, and address appropriate consequences or disciplinary action. 

What can I do to help?

We kindly ask that you continue to partner with us in creating a safe learning environment for all students. Review the student handbook with your child, discuss what constitutes a weapon, and reinforce the importance of not bringing a weapon or look-alike weapon to school or school campus activities. Check your child’s backpack, coat, and belongings regularly and particularly after camping or other activities where your child may have had reason to use a utility knife or item identified as a weapon. Discuss with your child the proper steps for incidents where they accidentally bring a weapon or look-alike to school (they should immediately turn the item in to a staff member or the front school office). To ensure you receive notifications about incidents on your child’s campus, make sure that your contact information is updated in Sapphire.

We would also like to make you aware that the new notification requirements may lead to an increase in the number of safety incident communications families receive. This change is due to the new mandate requiring notifications to all schools on a single campus and for incidents where students unintentionally bring a weapon or an item resembling one. Please understand that this is only a change in state notification requirements and does not mean that safety-related incidents are on the rise.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all students and appreciate your partnership in this effort.