Alabama school mapping law

Does Alabama require school maps?

Yes, through a state program. The law sets up a School Mapping Data Program within ALEA (the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency) to provide maps of each school for emergencies. ALEA must work with local boards of education to produce mapping data for each school, subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose. ALEA must adopt rules to implement and run the program. The School Security Act defines a school as any public K-12 school, so its mapping program sets nothing for private schools. The act creating the program, Act 2024-356 (2024 SB98), took effect October 1, 2024.

What must the maps show?

What format must the maps be in?

The data must work with the software platforms used by the public safety agencies that serve the school. It must also work with the security software platforms the school uses. It must be available in printable form, and in a digital form for interactive mobile platforms if a public safety agency, law enforcement agency or local board asks. No agency or local board may be required to buy software or pay a fee to view or access the mapping data. ALEA's answers to vendor questions name FGDC and the NAPSG symbology standard as its preferred map standards.

Who receives the maps?

School mapping data must be provided to each local board of education, local law enforcement agency and public safety agency for use in emergencies. The law does not require the data to go to anyone other than public safety or education agencies. ALEA has said most Alabama emergency agencies use the AlaCop platform, which ALEA manages. Each local board must name a central-office employee as district safety coordinator. Each year, that coordinator must hold a meeting at each school with administrators and local public safety officials that covers the school's mapping data. Local boards must give law enforcement and fire personnel access to each school so they can prepare to respond to emergencies.

How often are the maps updated?

Updates are made as ALEA deems necessary, in consultation with the State Board and the local board. Any updates must be accessible within the software platforms of the public safety agencies that serve the school. ALEA's answers to vendor questions say the vendor will be held responsible for keeping maps current with renovations and construction, with a process for districts to tell the vendor about changes.

Are the maps confidential?

School mapping data, and the records used to develop it, are confidential and are not public records. ALEA has also answered that mapping data will not be subject to open records laws. On request, the local board must give law enforcement or safety officials the current school emergency operations plan, which is kept secure and is not a public record.

How is the program paid for?

ALEA submitted a contract with Geo-Comm, Inc. to the Legislature's Contract Review Committee for its January 8, 2026 meeting, for GIS-based maps of every public school in Alabama. The contract is listed at $4,193,710, running January 15, 2026 through January 14, 2028, paid entirely from state funds. ALEA's answers to vendor questions put the job at about 1,500 public K-12 schools in about 130 districts.