Kari's Law and RAY BAUM'S Act for schools, in plain English

Two federal laws shape how 911 works on a school’s phone system. Kari’s Law makes sure anyone can dial 911 directly and that someone on site finds out. RAY BAUM’S Act makes sure the 911 call carries a useful location, such as a building and room. This article explains what each requires, what to set up, and how to test without tying up dispatchers.

Note: This is a plain-language summary to help you ask good questions. It isn’t legal advice. The rule text and FCC guidance linked here control.

Why these laws exist

Kari’s Law is named for a woman killed in a Texas motel room in 2013. Her nine-year-old daughter tried to call 911 again and again, but the room phone needed a 9 first to reach an outside line (FCC, as of Oct 2026). Congress passed Kari’s Law in 2018. Section 506 of RAY BAUM’S Act, passed the same year, directed the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to address caller location. The FCC adopted rules for both in 2019.

The rules cover multi-line telephone systems (MLTS): phone systems that serve many phones, like the ones in offices, hotels and schools. That includes hosted (cloud) phone service, and systems owned or leased by government agencies and nonprofits (47 CFR 9.3, as of Oct 2026).

What the rules require

1. Direct 911 dialing (Kari’s Law)

Anyone must be able to dial 911 from any phone on the system without adding a prefix, such as a 9 for an outside line. This applies even if other outside calls need a prefix (47 CFR 9.16, as of Oct 2026).

2. On-site notification (Kari’s Law)

When someone dials 911, the system must alert a central spot or a chosen person, such as the front office. This applies where the system can do it without hardware or software upgrades. The alert:

• starts at the same time as the call, when that’s technically feasible;
• must never delay the 911 call;
• goes somewhere a person is likely to see or hear it (47 CFR 9.16, as of Oct 2026).

That spot doesn’t have to be staffed every minute (FCC FAQ, as of Oct 2026). The alert must say that a 911 call was made. It must also include a callback number and the caller’s location, unless that isn’t technically feasible (47 CFR 9.3, as of Oct 2026).

3. Dispatchable location (RAY BAUM’S Act)

A dispatchable location is a validated street address plus details such as a floor, suite or room, so responders can find the caller (47 CFR 9.3, as of Oct 2026). The deadlines were:

• January 6, 2021 for phones that stay in one place on site, like classroom and office desk phones;
• January 6, 2022 for devices that move around on site, like softphones on laptops, and for devices used off site, like a staff member working from home. These can use other location methods when sending it automatically isn’t technically feasible (47 CFR 9.16, as of Oct 2026).

Which systems are covered

The rules apply to systems made, imported, first sold or leased, or installed after February 16, 2020 (FCC, as of Oct 2026). An older system may not be covered. A new system, including one you move to now, is.

Important: The rules apply to the companies that make, sell, install, manage and operate these systems (FCC, as of Oct 2026). For hosted systems, the FCC said a provider is responsible to the extent its service includes those functions, and that a contract alone doesn’t settle who is responsible (FCC 19-76, as of Oct 2026). In practice, the work is often shared between your school and your provider. Write down who does what.

What to set up

Use this list with your provider. For each item, agree on who owns it.

• Direct dialing. 911 works from every phone, including classroom, hallway and lobby phones. If staff are used to dialing 9 first, ask whether 9-911 can also reach 911.
• Who gets alerted. Choose who receives 911 alerts: the front office, a principal, district safety staff or a school resource officer. Plan for before and after school hours, too.
• How they’re alerted. Decide how the alert arrives (a phone ringing, a screen alert, an email or a text) and what it shows.
• Street address. Each building’s address is validated for 911.
• Room and floor. Each phone carries its building, floor and room. In California, the standard 911 display has 20 characters for this extra detail. Cal OES (the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services) suggests short forms such as BLDG for building and FL for floor (Cal OES, as of Oct 2026).
• Moves and changes. Someone updates a phone’s location whenever it moves to a new room.
• Softphones and remote staff. People using laptops or mobile apps know how to update their location.
• Power and internet. Internet-based phone service providers must tell you when 911 may not work or may be limited, such as during a power or internet outage, and must keep a record that you acknowledged it (47 CFR 9.11, as of Oct 2026). Plan battery backup for network equipment and phones, and keep another way to call.
• Labels and training. Phones carry 911 labels. Staff know to dial 911 directly and stay on the line, and the front office knows what to do when an alert arrives.

Note: Some sites send 911 calls to an on-site security team first. The FCC’s FAQ describes this as done with the knowledge and consent of the local 911 center, and advises talking with state and local 911 authorities first (FCC FAQ, as of Oct 2026).

How to test safely

Important: Never test by just dialing 911. A surprise test call ties up dispatchers who may be handling real emergencies. Plan every test with your provider and your local 911 center first.

Here’s the approach Cal OES describes (Cal OES, as of Oct 2026), with a few school-specific steps added:

1. Start with your provider. Ask how they recommend testing and whether they can help you schedule it.
2. Call your local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number, not 911. They can connect you with the right 911 center if needed. Ask to schedule a test. They may ask questions to confirm who you are and that there’s no emergency, and they may ask you to call back at a quieter time.
3. Tell the people who get 911 alerts that a test is coming, so no one responds to it as real.
4. On the test call, say right away that it’s a test. Then confirm the address, callback number and any room or floor details the dispatcher sees.
5. Check the on-site alert. Did it arrive where you expected, and did it show the right information?
6. Fix any mismatch quickly. If the location is wrong, contact your phone service provider right away so the records are updated.
7. Keep a record: date, time, which phone, what the dispatcher saw, and who you spoke with.
8. Test again after changes, such as a new building, a phone that moves rooms, or a system update.

Keeping it right over time

Meeting these rules depends on how your system is set up and kept current, not on any one product. Locations change, phones move and staff turn over. A short yearly review of your 911 settings, alert list and labels helps keep the setup accurate.

For a fuller walkthrough, including staff training and what the provider and school each configure, read the switching guide chapter 911 for schools, in plain English.