“The Impact of Active Shooter Drills on Student Health and Wellbeing”

• In Event: Schools, Violence, and Student Mental Health

Abstract

Mass violence events, including school shootings, have gained considerable media attention and have created an increased fear about whether students are safe at school. Secondary to increases in school shootings over the past several decades (e.g., Columbine, Sandy Hook, Stoneman Douglas) and despite little evidence of their effectiveness or impact on school communities, most American schools are now mandated to conduct active shooter drills. Consequently, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a committee of experts to conduct a consensus study on the impact of active shooter drills and other school security measures on student mental, emotional, and behavioral health and wellbeing. As panel members, we will discuss the findings from the new National Academies report. We will discuss the report’s framework, how these drills are embedded within overall comprehensive school safety programing, and how they are implemented with wide variability. Finally, we will discuss the implications of this guidance with the audience, policy changes that are needed at the state and local levels, and ways to implement these strategies within their school communities that minimize potential negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of students and staff.

Authors

• Anthony Peguero, Arizona State University

• Justin Heinze, University of Michigan