SAC School Safety & Crisis Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal guidance framework is most commonly used by US schools to structure emergency operations planning?
- IDEA Emergency Annex
- FEMA's Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans (School EOP Guide) (Correct answer)
- OSHA Safety Protocol 101
- Title IV Crisis Response Framework
Correct answer: FEMA's Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans (School EOP Guide)
The FEMA/DHS/DOE School EOP Guide provides the standard six-step planning process for school emergency operations plans used across the US.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'lockdown' procedure in school safety protocols?
- To contain students during a fire evacuation
- To secure students and staff in place when there is an immediate threat inside or near the school building (Correct answer)
- To restrict access to the building during non-school hours
- To prevent students from leaving campus during lunch
Correct answer: To secure students and staff in place when there is an immediate threat inside or near the school building
A lockdown is activated when there is an immediate, life-threatening danger, requiring students and staff to secure classroom doors, stay away from windows, and await law enforcement clearance.
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT one of the four standard emergency response options in most school emergency operations plans?
- Lockdown
- Evacuation
- Hold
- Recess Cancellation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Recess Cancellation
The four standard emergency response options in school EOPs are Lockdown, Evacuation, Shelter-in-Place (or Hold), and Secure — recess cancellation is not an emergency protocol.
Question 4: After a traumatic school event, which approach is recommended to support students' and staff's psychological recovery?
- Return to normal routines immediately without addressing the event
- Implement Psychological First Aid (PFA) and connect individuals to mental health resources (Correct answer)
- Close the school indefinitely
- Avoid discussing the event to prevent re-traumatization
Correct answer: Implement Psychological First Aid (PFA) and connect individuals to mental health resources
Psychological First Aid provides structured, evidence-based support that promotes coping, resilience, and access to mental health resources after trauma.
Question 5: What is the role of a school Crisis Response Team?
- To take over teaching duties during emergencies
- To coordinate the school's response to crises, support affected students and staff, and communicate with families and the community (Correct answer)
- To handle only physical safety emergencies such as fires
- To report crises to the media
Correct answer: To coordinate the school's response to crises, support affected students and staff, and communicate with families and the community
A Crisis Response Team coordinates all aspects of crisis response including communication, mental health support, family notification, and coordination with emergency services.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'threat assessment' in schools?
- An annual audit of the school building's physical security features
- A structured process for evaluating whether a student who made a threatening statement or gesture poses a risk of violence (Correct answer)
- Testing whether the alarm system works correctly
- Reviewing camera footage after an incident
Correct answer: A structured process for evaluating whether a student who made a threatening statement or gesture poses a risk of violence
Threat assessment is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based process that evaluates the nature and seriousness of threatening behavior and connects students with appropriate interventions.
SAC School Safety & Crisis Management 1
Which federal guidance framework is most commonly used by US schools to structure emergency operations planning?