Prioritize a research agenda on the long-term effects, optimal parameters, and trauma-skill tradeoffs of lockdown drills¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The brief calls for "carefully designed studies" to fill the gaps in the sparse research base on lockdown drills. It enumerates four question areas: long-term effects of drills on students, faculty, and staff; identifying procedures that maximize skill mastery and minimize trauma; mechanisms to standardize drill parameters for districts and schools; and how drills fit within thorough emergency response plans. The brief argues that answering such questions through rigorous research will build a more holistic understanding of drill effects and best practices.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Rigorous, carefully designed studies are needed because current research on the direct impact of drills on students is sparse.

Constraints¶

• The brief notes few state and local statutes are currently specific in defining the parameters of required drills.

Target Learners¶

• K-12 students
• school faculty and staff

Target Learning Goals¶

• emergency preparedness
• evidence-based school safety policy

Related Strategies¶

• Prefer lockdown drills over highly realistic, unannounced active shooter exercises, embedding them in layered emergency preparedness
• Research agenda for generative AI in teaching and learning: identify needed skills, resources and capabilities

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Schildkraut, J., Grogan, K., & Nabors, A. (2020). Should schools be conducting lockdown drills? WestEd. https://www.wested.org/resources/schools-lockdown-drills/