One of the realities of recent shooting incidents is the police are not going to get there in time. They will get there, but not for 5 or 10 or even 15 minutes. A lot can happen in those first few minutes. Which is why schools need a plan in place that assumes they will be “on their own” for a while.
That’s why programs like the ALICE Program were created. ALICE stands for
- Alert – call 911
- Lockdown – shelter in place
- Inform – constant, real-time updates
- Counter the attack – a last resort
- Evacuate – get out!
This system acknowledges that there is no one-size-fits all strategy, and that teachers, administrators, students need an options-based plan from which a solution can be drawn.