Schools train and drill all staff and students in the General Response Protocol, which describes what to do in an Evacuation, Shelter-In, or Lockdown. The training is tailored for different grade levels so that students aren’t upset by the information.

Schools also send home a copy of the General Response Protocol, to help you talk to your children about emergency readiness in school.

The General Response Protocol gives schools instructions to follow when an emergency happens. It uses common language to identify the steps to take until first responders arrive.

In every incident, school administrators will first call 911. Then they will look at the unique situation and decide:

• whether to lock down (soft or hard), shelter-in, or evacuate.

• if any instructions should be changed to fit the specific circumstances.

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