PCAT News
Campus Access Control: Preparing Entry Points for Back-to-School Safety
While visitor check-in procedures help control who enters a building, the entry points must also function correctly for those procedures to work.
Insurance Gaps to Watch for Before the School Year Starts
The weeks leading up to the first day of school are a smart time to check for insurance gaps for schools before students, staff, and visitors return in full force. Addressing insurance gaps for schools now can help prevent coverage surprises after an incident and support smoother claims handling if something does occur.
Addressing Blind Spots on Campus: Surveillance & Lighting
Summer is one of the best opportunities schools have to reduce campus security gaps. With fewer people on site and more flexibility to schedule vendors, campus surveillance and lighting can be inspected and improved to correct blind spots before back-to-school traffic increases.
Hurricane Season for Schools: Post-Storm Recovery and Reopening Plan
A strong school recovery plan for hurricane season helps schools restore operations quickly and reopen safely after a storm.
Protecting Athletic Fields and Outdoor Facilities Over the Summer
Summer is a key season for school athletic fields and outdoor facilities. With fewer activities, it’s a great time for repairs and preventive maintenance—but it can also increase exposure to weather damage, irrigation problems, vandalism, and unauthorized use.
Phishing Attacks Are Evolving: Can Your Staff Spot Them?
Phishing attacks targeting schools have changed. They’re no longer limited to poorly written emails asking someone to “click here.”
PCAT Names Fate Breedlove 2025–2026 Statewide Bus Driver of the Year
On Monday, May 4th, 2026, Fate Breedlove of East Bernard ISD was named 2025–2026
Statewide Bus Driver of the Year by PCAT in recognition of his service.
Summer School Student Workers: Best Practices to Reduce Risk for Texas School Districts
Many public school districts hire high school students for summer roles—supporting summer programs, clerical and departmental work, campus organization projects, childcare support, and limited food service assistance.
The Expanding Role of AI in Education
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of the modern classroom. New AI-powered tools can assist with lesson planning, personalize learning experiences, and help educators manage administrative tasks more efficiently.
6 Tips to Reduce Ransomware Risk in Schools
Ransomware attacks on school districts are no longer rare events — they are targeted, disruptive, and expensive. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ransomware continues to be one of the most prevalent cyber threats impacting public institutions, including K-12 schools.
Workers’ Compensation: Avoiding the Most Common School Staff Injuries
School districts work hard to keep students safe, but employee safety deserves the same level of focus. Workplace injuries not only impact staff well-being, they can also lead to higher workers’ compensation costs, staffing disruptions, and operational strain.
Understanding Your School’s Property Schedule
Your property schedule is one of the most important—and often overlooked—documents in your insurance program. While it may look like a simple list of buildings, values, and locations, this schedule plays a critical role in how your coverage responds when a loss occurs.
Winter Weather Preparedness: Keeping School Operations Safe and Moving
Winter weather events are becoming less predictable, even in regions that don’t traditionally experience prolonged cold, ice, or snow. Sudden freezes, icy roadways, power disruptions, and rapidly changing forecasts can create significant challenges for school districts — often with little time to respond.
Understanding Educators Legal Liability (ELL)
Educators face unique professional exposures that go beyond standard general liability. That’s where Educators Legal Liability (ELL) coverage comes in.
Fire and Security Safety for School Holiday Events
Fire and security safety for school holiday events should be a top priority as schools prepare for winter concerts, class parties, and seasonal performances.
Cyber Hygiene for Schools: Teaching Digital Safety to Students
Cyber hygiene for schools is more important than ever in today’s digital learning environment. Teaching digital safety to students not only protects their personal information but also strengthens overall school cybersecurity.
FERPA and Data Privacy Risks: What Schools Should Know
FERPA—the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act—is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. However, as schools collect and store more sensitive data, FERPA and data privacy risks are also evolving.
Visitor Check-In and Access Control Best Practices
Visitor check-in and access control best practices are essential for ensuring campus safety. With increasing security concerns in schools, implementing visitor check-in and access control best practices helps minimize unauthorized access, protect students and staff, and ensure a safe learning environment.
Facility Rental: Best Practices for Non-School Use
As community hubs, school districts often open their doors to outside organizations for events, activities, and gatherings. This facility rental for non-school use can benefit the community, but it also comes with potential risks.
CPR and AED Training for School Staff: A Life-Saving Back-to-School Priority
As students return to campus, it’s important for school administrators to assess more than just academics and operations. One critical area that deserves attention is CPR and AED training for school staff. Ensuring your employees are prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies can save lives—and now is the perfect time to make it a priority.
Member-owned since 2003
Delivering lowest long- term cost for property and casualty coverages.