Coordinated Strategy Needed to Ensure Active Shooter Drill Practices in Schools Protect Mental and Emotional Health of Students, Says New Report

Although school systems have considerable autonomy at the state, district, and local levels, the committee recommended multilevel, cross-sector efforts to develop a cohesive, coordinated approach that ensures all schools have the resources, training, and support needed to implement supportive strategies for all students.

At the national level, federal agencies - the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - should issue national guidance that adheres to best practices in informed and appropriate emergency-preparedness procedures. On the legislative side, Congress should fund school safety initiatives, violence prevention efforts, and programs that promote a positive environment in schools. In addition, state and local governments and school boards should fund similar programs in their school systems.

To further ensure accessibility and safety, policymakers and school administrators should make sure active shooter drills are accessible to all students - particularly students with disabilities and students with functional or access needs - by issuing guidance and proactively incorporating accommodation considerations into emergency-preparedness measures. Philanthropies, advocacy groups, the private sector, and universities should assist in research and development of best practices that consider the needs of all students and school staff in active shooter drills.

Recognizing that better policies are only part of the solution, the report also recommends that any law enforcement officer assigned to work in schools should be trained to work in educational environments and be properly prepared to respond using developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed practices that support the mental, emotional, and behavioral welfare of children and adolescents. Researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and law enforcement officials are encouraged to conduct further research on the effectiveness of school resource officer training and collaborate on developing these trainings.