Montgomery County Public Schools’ one month pilot program testing a new school safety technology will officially begin on Monday, March 2, according to information shared in the district’s weekly community message earlier in February.
The pilot will take place at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Col. Zadok Magruder High School, and Seneca Valley High School. MCPS said the goal of the short term pilot is to gather feedback from school communities and evaluate whether the technology supports existing safety practices.
The system being tested is called VOLT AI, short for Violence Observation and Lead Tracking. MCPS describes it as an AI supported safety tool that works with existing security cameras in public areas of schools to flag situations that may require attention from staff.
District officials emphasized that VOLT AI does not make decisions or take action on its own. When the system flags a potential concern, trained school staff review the information and determine whether a response is necessary. A human review is required in every case.
MCPS also outlined clear limitations on what the technology does not do. The system does not monitor student devices, private messages, or social media. It does not use facial recognition, identify individuals by name, track students from camera to camera, or record audio. The technology will not be used in classrooms, restrooms, or other private spaces.
The district said the pilot is intended solely as a testing period and that no decisions about broader use across the school system will be made without community input, careful evaluation, and strong privacy protections. MCPS framed the pilot as part of its broader effort to strengthen school safety while balancing student privacy and transparency with families and staff.
