Are Alabama schools safe? How to find safety guidelines and talk to students after the Apalachee shooting

Schools are safe for most students, but shootings and violent incidents are on the rise across the country. And outside of school, firearms are now among the leading causes of death for children.

A 2024 survey of nationwide incidents since 1970 found an increase in reports of deadly incidents at schools. On Wednesday, a 14-year-old shot and killed two teachers and two students at a Georgia high school, according to news reports. In recent months, several students have been shot and injured at Alabama schools.

In recent years, many schools have increased security with school security officers, bulletproof windows and whiteboards or metal detectors. A 2023 AL.com analysis of recent school security and discipline incidents found an increase in reports of weapons, threats and fights.

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Every school in Alabama is required to have a plan in place to deal with emergencies, whether it’s a natural disaster, a medical incident or an armed intruder. As a new school year begins, some schools have already practiced drills for different threats.

Talking to children about school safety

Experts say it’s a good idea to talk to your child about school safety or any other potentially tricky topic before a drill takes place. Parents also shouldn’t be afraid to ask their school administrators about their safety plans.

“They need to know that the school district takes safety very seriously,” Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, recently told AL.com.

Parents can emphasize the importance of safety habits in everyday life. If a student is directly affected by a traumatic event, the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has a list of suggested actions parents can take in response to various behavioral changes.

Will I be notified about a security issue?

In Alabama, each school district must decide exactly how it will address and notify students and staff about any threats. For security reasons, those plans are typically only given to law enforcement and not made public.

However, all schools use the same four categories to designate different levels of emergency:

1. Heightened awareness: This means that there may be a possibility of an unusual situation occurring and parties must have heightened awareness to react as needed.

2. Secure your area of ​​responsibility: This means that an incident has occurred, such as a threat to self or a medical emergency, and school staff must secure their areas to prevent further incidents from occurring.

3. Safe Perimeter: This means that a potential threat or danger exists or has occurred within the community or neighborhood, and all parties must be aware to react as necessary.

4. Lockdown: A lockdown is an acknowledgement of a potential immediate danger. School staff and students must take immediate action using the safest and best option to survive.

What to expect from a school closure?

State law requires schools to conduct a lockdown drill, or “code red,” twice a year, typically during the first six weeks of the fall and spring semesters.

Principals must also conduct an annual training session for employees on school closure plans and procedures.

Lockdown drills may vary by school. Most lockdown drills will require students to shelter in place and stay out of the hallways, while others may require additional precautions such as avoiding windows and doors, turning off lights, or designating a safe place in the classroom to hide from a potential intruder.

Weapons in schools

In the 2022-23 school year, Alabama schools reported 139 incidents in which a student possessed a firearm or handgun, and five incidents in which a student used a handgun, rifle, or other firearm on school property.

All Alabama schools must have a policy in place to prevent anyone other than authorized law enforcement officers from bringing deadly weapons or dangerous instruments into schools, and provide severe penalties for anyone who violates those rules.

School resource officers may carry a firearm if they successfully complete state law enforcement agency-approved active shooter training in addition to other firearms training.

A 2018 state law also authorizes schools without a school resource officer to allow a designated administrator to keep a firearm on school grounds if the administrator passes required screenings and training.

New security measures

Several schools have added new security measures in recent years to detect weapons and provide additional shelter in case of emergency.

Recently, Cullman City Schools installed bulletproof whiteboards that flip up and down to protect students from both active shooters and natural disasters. In Gadsden, teachers can now lock school doors with the touch of a button.

Several other districts have added new systems like metal detectors and X-ray machines, or hired more school resource officers on campus.

Further changes could be coming at the state level with the recent passage of the Safe Schools Act this summer, which will take effect on October 1.

The law mandates the following:

• Periodic inspections of public schools to assess their security needs
• Schools must provide local authorities with updated plans in the event of an emergency.
• School districts must designate a security coordinator who is trained in best practices for lockdowns, threat assessments, and other security procedures.