Drafted in response to a request from Congress to explore the psychological impact of active school shooter drills on students and staff, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published its consensus study report, School Active Shooter Drills: Mitigating Risks to Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health, in 2025.
The study was conducted by a committee of experts with backgrounds in education, school safety, pediatrics, public health, developmental neuroscience and other relevant fields and considered available evidence in addition to identifying the practices most likely to be harmful. Evidence-based strategies for developmentally appropriate emergency preparedness are included to support policymakers, educators and families in creating safe and supportive school environments.
Findings
According to the report, 95 percent of K-12 public schools in the U.S. perform active shooter drills, and they are mandated in many states. “Schools vary widely in how drills are defined, implemented, and communicated, with little guidance on minimizing potential harms to mental, emotional, and behavioral health,” a summary of the report states. “Some drills use developmentally appropriate, low-intensity protocols, while others incorporate high-sensorial simulations, unannounced scenarios, or even deception. This diversity and inconsistency complicate efforts to evaluate drill outcomes and risks.”
Research on the drills’ effects has mixed findings with some students reporting it makes them feel prepared and others saying it causes fear, confusion or emotional distress. Age, identity, life experience and implementation strategy can impact students’ reactions.
“Preparedness efforts are best situated within a positive school climate, attuned to the needs of the school community and the developmental stages of students,” the summary reads. “Importantly, students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and individuals with other functional and access needs often lack the necessary supports and accommodations to participate in drills safely and effectively. Practices do not consistently reflect trauma-informed or inclusive planning.”
Teachers and school-site staff have reported emotional burdens and uncertainty, especially when they don’t know about drills in advance or aren’t given training or resources to support students. Providing adults with the tools to stay calm in emergencies helps them do the same for students.
Overall, more robust evidence on the topic is critically needed “to inform interventions that equip students and staff to respond to emergencies while minimizing risks to their mental, emotional, and behavioral health,” according to the report.
The committee concluded that risks of harm to students’ and staff’s mental, emotional and behavioral health are not to be ignored and that thoughtful, evidence-informed planning can mitigate negative effects. “Schools can integrate active shooter drill practices with broader strategies that promote a positive school climate, emergency preparedness, and mental health support. Practices that are high-intensity, unannounced, or use deception should be avoided entirely,” the summary states.
Recommendations
Stakeholders, including policymakers, education leaders and federal agencies, may consider the following suggestions, including:
- Designing trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate drills
- Banning high-sensorial and deceptive practices
- Training and supporting school staff
- Ensuring accessibility and equity
- Increasing access to mental health resources
- Providing sustainable funding
- Issuing national guidelines on best practices
- Funding research and building data systems
“There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for school safety, but there are clear principles that can guide the implementation of practices that support the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of students and school staff. A positive school climate, inclusive emergency planning, and access to mental health supports are foundational to any preparedness effort,” the summary concludes. “While research on the long-term impacts of school active shooter drills on mental, emotional, and behavioral health outcomes remains sparse, the committee underscores that the absence of conclusive data is not a reason for inaction. Schools can still move forward drawing on strategies that reflect the best available science, elevate the voices of students and staff, and protect the wellbeing of the school community.”
