Active Shooter Drills in Schools Should Improve and Minimize Trauma

Key points:

In late September, the Biden administration issued an executive order directing federal agencies to improve active shooter drills in schools, making them more effective and less traumatic for students.

“Many parents, students and educators have expressed concerns about the trauma caused by some approaches to these drills. “Federal agencies should help schools improve drills so they can more effectively prepare for an active shooter situation while preventing or minimizing any trauma.” according to the order.

As of September 19, the United States has seen at least 50 school shootings: 13 on college campuses and 37 on K-12 school grounds. As a result, 24 people died and at least 66 other victims were injured. according to CNN.

The announcement received approval from several education advocacy groups, school and adolescent mental health groups and lawmakers.

He National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) said in a statement that it “welcomes the Biden administration's executive order directing the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and publish guidance for K-12 schools and higher education institutions to create , implement and evaluate active activities. marksman exercises. Having published best practice considerations for such drills in conjunction with the National Association of School Resource Officers and Safe and Healthy Schools in 2021, we understand both the role these exercises can play in keeping our children safe in school, and their potential to cause damage. when not implemented correctly. It is imperative that the Departments of Education and Homeland Security involve school psychologists and other leading experts in developing their recommendations to ensure that such guidance reflects the broad range of considerations for the safety, emotional well-being, and mental health of children.” .

“School psychologists have led school safety and crisis preparedness and response efforts for years, and have invaluable experience that the Biden administration should ultimately incorporate into its recommendations for schools,” said Director of Policy and Advocacy NASP, Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach. “We look forward to working closely with the administration to ensure schools have the guidance they need to keep students safe while meeting their mental health needs.”

The order directs the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Surgeon General, to develop and publish, within 110 days, information to K-12 schools. and higher education institutions regarding active shooter drills in schools.

“Today, the administration is taking additional steps to save lives. While addressing emerging firearm threats, this executive order also focuses on the less noticeable effects of gun violence, such as the traumatizing impact of active shooter drills in schools. These drills, when poorly organized, can cause stress for students, teachers and parents. That's why, after seeing the impact on students firsthand, the AFT and Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence in 2020 announced their opposition to active shooter drills that use the firing of blank ammunition, fake blood, simulation of death or any other potentially traumatizing action. “said AFT President Randi Weingarten. in a statement.

The order also directs federal agencies to “combat emerging threats from 3D printed machine gun conversion devices and non-serialized firearms.” A task force on emerging firearms threats will be comprised of leaders from key federal departments and agencies and will issue a report within 90 days. That report will include: an assessment of the threat posed by 3D printed non-serialized firearms and machine gun conversion devices; an assessment of federal agencies' operational and legal capabilities to detect, intercept, and seize 3D printed non-serialized firearms and machine gun conversion devices; and an inter-institutional plan to combat these emerging threats. The report will include any additional authority or funding that federal agencies need from Congress to complete this work.

Laura Ascione is the editorial director of eSchool Media. He graduated from the prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

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