Guns are considered the leading cause of death in children and teens, according to a report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. One app is trying to fix that.
On Feb. 17, 2025, the RAVE Panic Button rolled out in many schools across Wake County. The app had been in development since 2022 and is now in over 130 schools across the county.
After the pandemic, annual school shootings have soared into the 80s annually, while gradually increasing. The number of school shootings in 2024 was 83, the highest number of school shootings in a single year since 2008.
Despite school efforts to keep the number of incidents low, only 3 out of 10 K-12 teachers feel that their school has done an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ job preparing them for an active shooter situation. Simultaneously, 59% of teachers are at least somewhat worried about a shooting potentially occurring at their school. This is the problem that the RAVE Panic Button aims to address.
The program began last spring in 28 schools across Wake County, after a random sample of 28 schools were selected to pilot the button. Through this initial launch, the district was able to create a training plan for staff and received implementable feedback from teachers and officials that employed it.
The app is now rolling out in three phases of 65 schools, with phases 1 and 2 released. By the end of spring 2025, the app will be accessible to all Wake County teachers.
In order to fund the program, the Rave Panic Alarm Solution in all K-12 schools and charter schools around the state cost around $4,262,475. The total for the entire implementation of the button added to $4,682,475, dividing out to approximately $3.25 per student
In order to train staff on effective use, teachers begin using the app by first completing a short training assessment and watching a video. This ensures that teachers will be able to use the button effectively, especially in real emergencies.
The district, however, is not requiring teachers to download the app – it is only encouraged. Teachers must give the app their phone number and email address to sign up, though they can opt out of allowing the app to integrate their information.
Based on current responses, the RAVE Panic Button seems to provide an easier and more convenient way for teachers to reach 911 staff and report emergencies. With a push of a button in their app, emergency services are called and first responders get additional information through the app such as specific locational and situational awareness.
In many ways, the app bridges communication between staff, administration and the authorities during times of crisis. The button’s features make it easier for first responders to understand the nature of an emergency, allowing them to get dispatched efficiently. Teachers can report the nature of the incident, if they are injured and their exact location to the app for first responders to see. The button gives first responders a map, procedures and policies of the school, that way they are prepared to begin helping immediately when they arrive at the site. Additionally, the StaffAssist feature works as a messaging system between teachers and officials. It allows teachers and officials to communicate and schedule non-emergency issues with officers such as fire drills.
As the RAVE Panic Button becomes more widely used across Wake County, the positive effects on the safety of schools remains to be determined.
