A critical ingredient in the safe school recipe is the uniform classroom response to any incident. Weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by school and district administration and staff. Historically, schools have taken this scenario-based approach to respond to hazards and threats. It's not uncommon to find a stapled sheaf of papers or even a tabbed binder in a teacher's desk that describes a variety of things that might happen and the specific response to each event.
The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based not on individual scenarios but on the response to any given situation. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), SRP demands a specific vocabulary but also allows for great flexibility. The premise is simple - there are four specific actions that can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a "Term of Art" and is then followed by a "Directive." Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including students, staff, teachers and first responders.
These specific actions can act as both a verb and a noun. If the action is Lockdown, it would be announced on public address as "Lockdown! Locks, Lights, Out of Sight." Communication to local Law Enforcement Agency would then be "We are under Lockdown." Each response has specific student and staff action. The Evacuate response is always followed by a location: "Evacuate to the Bus Zone." Responses can also be combined: "Evacuate to Hallway; Shelter for Tornado; Drop, Cover and Hold."
Since its introduction in 2009, the Standard Response Protocol has been adopted by districts, departments and agencies across the US and Canada. The conformance to FEMA guidance about plain language and the simplicity of implementation has resulted in thousands of schools and law enforcement agencies implementing the program.
As organizations began adoption of the program, an ongoing commitment from The "I Love U Guys" Foundation has been to keep the materials relevant. In 2015, the Foundation released a total refresh on the materials, practices and guidance.
That said, an agent of change has to be firmly settled in time. The current time. With the directive of re-evaluating everything, the Foundation began to scrutinize every aspect of guidance, premise, messaging, practices, branding, graphic standards, audience and distribution.
This is the result. SRP V2. There are some changes. Operationally, changes are modest. Tuning the guidance. Visually, there is an evolution. Our audiences live in this time. Not 2009.
The benefits of SRP become quickly apparent. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event. For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident. Parents can easily understand the practices and can reinforce the protocol. Additionally, this protocol enables rapid response determination when an unforeseen event occurs.
The protocol also allows for a more predictable series of actions as an event unfolds. An intruder event may start as a Lockdown, but as the intruder is isolated, first responders might transition parts of the school to an "Evacuate to the Gym and Lockdown," and later "Evacuate to the Bus Zone."
The differentiation between Lockout and Lockdown is a critical element in SRP. A Lockout recovers all students from outside the building, secures the building perimeter and locks all outside doors. This would be implemented when there is a threat or hazard outside of the building. Criminal activity, dangerous events in the community, or even a vicious dog on the playground would be examples of a Lockout response. While the Lockout response encourages greater staff situational awareness, it allows for educational practices to continue with little classroom interruption or distraction.
Lockdown is a classroom-based protocol that requires locking the classroom door, turning off the lights and placing students out of sight of any corridor windows. Student action during Lockdown is to remain quiet. It does not mandate locking outside doors. There are several reasons for not locking perimeter doors during a Lockdown. Risk is increased to students or staff in exposed areas attempting to lock outside doors. Locking outside doors inhibits entry of first responders and increases risk as responders attempt to breach doors.
There may be situations where both Lockdown and Lockout need to be performed, but in this case they are identified individually. "Lockout! Secure the Perimeter. Lockdown! Locks, Lights, out of Sight." would be announced on public address. We are in "Lockdown and Lockout" would be conveyed to emergency services or 911.
SRP also acknowledges that some school incidents involve a tactical response from law enforcement, and suggests consulting with local law enforcement for specific simple actions in that event.
Learn about the SRP Extended
Downloadable versions of all materials are made available at no cost.
Optionally, you can purchase printed materials.
Lockdown Drill Poster
The Lockdown Drill Poster can be placed near entrances during a Lockdown drill.
Download the PDF
SRP-K12 Red Card/Green Card
We offer three different versions of the Teacher Red/Green/Med/Alert cards. Choose the one that fits your needs.
Lockdown Drill Guidance
Simple guidance on planning, briefing, conducting and debriefing a Lockdown Drill. .
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Lockdown Drill Teacher Guidance
Some suggestions for a conversation the teacher can have with students after a lockdown drill.
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The Foundation produced this video as an addition to the SRP-T Classroom Training Presentation.
Download the Video
In 2009, the initial focus of the SRP was in using common language and expectations in a crisis, between students, staff and first responders.
As schools began adopting the SRP the foundation would occasionally receive requests about including an additional action: “Hold in your classroom.” This action would be used when hallways needed to be cleared of students.
Since 2015, the foundation offered optional classroom training that included “Hold in your classroom.” But with the SRP growing beyond the classroom and into communities, businesses and organizations, “Hold in your classroom” is not a universal action.
In 2017 the foundation developed materials for The Standard Response Protocol - Extended (SRP-X) that includes the Hold action. So schools now have the option to use the SRP or the SRP Extended.
Download SRP Extended
Downloadable versions of all materials are made available at no cost.
This 3.5 day Symposium examines lessons learned from traumatic events and reveals new, preemptive school safety measures growing in multiple realms. The Symposium is designed to provide a number of takeaways that districts, departments and agencies can implement immediately. This is not open to the public, and attendees will be asked to show an agency or organization I.D. upon check-in.
Law enforcement, school personnel, victim advocates, mental health professionals, emergency and risk management staff, school safety teams and all first responders.
Presenters include school administrators, law enforcement, criminal justice and school security administrators who have been involved in the response and recovery to school violence and other events.
Find Out MoreIt does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.
It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
