Legislative Alert

As advocates for safe schools, SCASP Crisis Response and Legislative Committees want you to be informed that SC House Bill 4966 was introduced this week. The bill requires schools to conduct monthly active shooter drills.

As this bill is discussed in committee and the wording is honed, members should be aware that the language used will be critical. If not worded correctly, there are individuals and companies that will assume this includes utilizing highly sensorial drills and exercises (simulated gun shots, fake blood, teaching staff/students to fight the intruder) and schools could unintentionally be exposing teachers and youth to a traumatizing experience. Some may interpret this to mean they HAVE to do highly sensorial drills.

This is a good time to contact the sponsors and committee members, particularly if a sponsor or committee member represents you in the House. The list of individuals on the House Committee on Education and Public Works can be found here. The text of the bill, a list of its sponsors and co-sponsors, and up-to-date bill progress can be found here.

There are already two lawsuits filed against school districts who implemented these highly sensorial drills. Teachers ended up with physical injuries, and one was diagnosed with PTSD after the active shooter drill experience. These results are avoidable. We don't light a fire in the hallway to practice fire drills; thus, we don't need to expose students and staff to highly sensorial experiences in order to prepare for an active shooter. There are more appropriate ways we can do this.

NASP and NASRO have collaborated to provide states and other entities a document that gives guidance on these more appropriate ways to conduct such drills. This document, Best Practices Considerations for Schools in Active Shooters and Other Armed Assailant Drills, details the important considerations involved. Along with this document, you will find a streamlined list of considerations for school districts to use when implementing such drills. For your convenience, both of these documents are attached to this email.

We need to get these documents in front of the legislators in SC. Further, one of the document's authors, Dr. Melissa Reeves (reevesm@winthrop.edu), is right here in SC and has made herself available to assist in discussions with anyone wanting to plan how to complete these drills responsibly. Please consider reaching out to your legislators with this important information.

Thank you for doing your part to advocate for safe schools and practices.

Best Regards,

Susan Beck and Lisa Lipscomb,

Legislative and Crisis Response Chairpersons

South Carolina Association of School Psychologists

Questions To Ask When Considering Armed Assailant Training

Letter to the General Assembly