The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have released their report The Impact of Active Shooter Drills on Student Health and Wellbeing. The Center on PBIS has several resources to help schools and districts plan and conduct school safety drills as well as considerations for school safety measures and how they fit within your MTSS/PBIS framework.
Among their findings, the experts report:
School Active Shooter Drills finds that while drills aim to enhance preparedness, they often vary dramatically in intensity and design, from simple safety walk-throughs to unannounced, high-simulation events. Such inconsistencies can heighten anxiety, distress, and confusion, especially among vulnerable student populations. The report underscores that developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed practices are essential, and drills involving realistic simulations or deception should be avoided entirely.
These resources directly address the concerns brought up in the report.
