Washington school security camera law

Does Washington require cameras in schools?

No. School districts must work with local law enforcement, 911 centers (public safety answering points) and safety and security staff to develop an emergency response system. The system must include at least one listed option, and a live video feed that law enforcement, the district and the school can access is one of them. Other options that meet the requirement include a live audio feed, remote control of doors and live two-way communications, so video is not required. The section names school districts, charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools. It does not name private schools. The 2025 act that amended this section is known as Alyssa's law. SB 5004 became Chapter 347, Laws of 2025, and took effect July 27, 2025.

How many schools share live video with responders?

Each school district had to report its progress on the emergency response system to OSPI (the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) by October 1, 2025. OSPI had to report to the legislature on the types of systems districts use by December 1, 2025. In that report, 291 of 322 local education agencies reported, and 269 of those (92.4%) had at least one active qualifying system. Schools reported 2,950 visual-feed (video) installations, 16.2% of all reported safety systems; 2,075 of them (70.3%) were accessible to emergency responders and 875 were district-access only.

Does the fire code option involve cameras?

One option points to the state fire code for school buildings, which allows a system developed as part of the emergency response system if it meets listed performance standards. Those standards cover voice broadcast, lockdown sounds, two-way communications, room calling, manual override, installation, battery backup and annual inspection. They set no video or camera standard.

Can school cameras record audio?

Washington's privacy law makes it unlawful for the state, its agencies and political subdivisions to record private communications without the consent the chapter requires, with exceptions. That includes recording a private conversation with a device without first getting the consent of everyone in the conversation, except as the chapter provides. Where everyone's consent is needed, consent counts as obtained once one party announces, in any reasonably effective manner, that the conversation is about to be recorded; if it is recorded, the announcement must be recorded too.

How long must footage be kept?

Public schools use the Public Schools (K-12) records retention schedule together with the CORE schedule for records common to all government agencies. Security recordings that document a security incident or threat, including targeted violence toward staff or students, must be kept 6 years after the matter is resolved. Recordings may not be destroyed at the end of the retention period if they are subject to ongoing or reasonably anticipated litigation, or to an existing public records request.

Is school video a public record?

The Public Records Act exempts personal information in files kept for public school students from public inspection and copying. It also exempts safe-school-plan information to the extent it identifies specific vulnerabilities of a district or school.

Does Washington limit facial recognition?

Washington law defines a facial recognition service as technology a state or local government agency uses to identify, verify or persistently track people in still or video images. An agency using, or planning to develop, buy or use, such a service must file a notice of intent with a legislative authority stating its purpose. Before developing, buying or using one, an agency must produce an accountability report. An agency may not use facial recognition for ongoing surveillance, real-time or near-real-time identification, or persistent tracking unless it has a warrant, exigent circumstances exist, or a court order is obtained for missing or deceased persons. The facial recognition chapter does not name schools or school districts, and does not define "state or local government agency". SSB 5956 (2026) would have added an express ban on school districts using facial recognition for ongoing surveillance, real-time identification or persistent tracking of students. It would also have barred districts from using student biometric data to infer emotional states, mental health conditions or other sensitive traits. SSB 5956 passed the Senate 35-13 on February 10, 2026, but on March 12, 2026 it was returned to Senate Rules and did not become law.

How can schools pay for security upgrades?

The 2025 capital budget provides $6,000,000 only for school security and preparedness infrastructure grants for K-12 public schools. Public school districts are eligible to apply for these grants. Eligible projects include infrastructure that helps or speeds up law enforcement response to a threat or emergency on school grounds. Cameras are not named. No school district may receive more than $500,000 from this grant program in a biennium.