Act 44 Notification Update

Effective January 5, 2026, Pennsylvania law requires all school districts to notify parents/guardians and school employees within 24 hours whenever a weapon is found on school premises.

KCSD has always notified families and staff when there was a threat to student or staff safety. The new requirement goes further. We must now notify families even when there is not a threat to the safety and well-being of students and staff.

Examples may include situations such as:

• A student unintentionally leaving a box cutter in a jacket pocket from a part-time job
• A student returning from a weekend activity with a small knife still in a backpack

While these situations may be unintentional, weapons are not permitted on school property and their possession is addressed under state law, School Board policy, and our Code of Student Conduct.

• Safety remains our top priority. Every situation is taken seriously.
• Context and intent matter. Each incident is investigated thoroughly to determine appropriate next steps.
• Every school has a Threat Assessment Team, as required by Board Policy 236.1.
• These teams use a well-developed, evidence-based threat assessment model to:
  • Determine the level of risk
  • Ensure the safety of students and staff
  • Identify supports and interventions

A weapon is broadly defined and includes, but is not limited to:

• Knives or cutting instruments
• Cutting tools
• Nunchaku
• Firearms (including rifles and shotguns)
• Any tool or instrument capable of causing serious bodily injury

Beginning January 5, 2026, families may receive a District or school email when a weapon is found on school property—even if:

• Their child was not involved
• Their child was unaware the incident occurred

When an incident is determined to not pose a threat to the safety and well-being of students or staff, communication will be shared only with the affected school community.

When an incident is determined to pose a threat to the safety and well-being of students or staff, communication will be shared districtwide.

The email will:

• Have the subject line “Violation Report”
• State that an incident involving possession of a weapon occurred

The email will NOT include:

• Student names
• Identifying information
• Details about discipline

School employees directly assigned to the student (such as teachers or counselors) may receive additional information, as permitted under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), to support student safety and well-being.