School Emergency Preparedness

The Arizona Department of Education is committed to working in partnership with districts and schools across the state to develop and maintain emergency operations plans (EOPs) that can keep our children safe.

Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Minimum Requirements

  • NEW - ADE Emergency Preparedness Minimum Requirements Arizona Revised Statute 15-341(A)(31) requires each school site to have an emergency operations plan that meets the minimum state requirements. ADE and the Arizona Department of Emergency & Military Affairs (AZDEMA) are responsible for developing the minimum standards for school emergency operations plans in Arizona. Click here for a copy of the Minimum Requirements.

April 2019 ADE Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Template

NEW! Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Template

Completing District and School Threat/Hazard Analysis

Resources

Access Functional Needs Guidance Documents for Emergency Response Plans Planning for students in emergencies means planning for all students, including those with disabilities and special needs. Lessons learned from recent disasters have not only emphasize this point, but they have also illuminated the critical steps schools need to take to protect their campuses. Meeting the needs of students with disabilities and special needs in the event of an emergency does not have to be a daunting or a costly task. It simply requires administrators and officials to take into account the entire school community, from students and staff members to visitor and volunteers, and then take the appropriate actions to ensure the safety of all. Click here for additional resources and planning forms.

Pandemic/Influenza for Schools

Click here for additional information on pandemic influenza and checklists for schools.

Helpful Resources

School-Based Threat Assessment

Subject matter experts report that the adoption and use of a Threat Assessment protocol by schools helps to foster a positive school culture and reduces the potential for targeted violence. Click here to access Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines and related information.

Agency Contacts

  • Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), 15-341 (A) (31) requires each school site to have an emergency response plan that meets the minimum state requirements. The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) are responsible for developing the minimum standards for school emergency response plans in Arizona.
  • The Arizona Schools Emergency Response Plan Minimum Requirements guidance document provides the required elements that must be included in every school’s emergency response plan. The standards are not a systematic guide for completing a comprehensive response plan, but rather the minimum of what to include in the plan.
  • Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), 41-1801.  Definitions for Critical Infrastructure Information to include Emergency Response Plans. ARS 41-1801
  • Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), 41-1803 Statewide critical infrastructure information system; disclosure; definition. ARS 41-1803
  • Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), 15-341.(A-F) (36). General powers and duties…bullying policy requirements for school districts
  • Presidential Policy Directive / PPD-8. Presidential Policy Directive / PPD-8 is aimed at strengthening the security and resilience of the United States through systematic preparation for the threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of the nation, including acts of terrorism, cyber attacks, pandemics, and catastrophic natural disasters. Presidential Policy Directive / PPD-8 is aimed at strengthening the security and resilience of the United States through systematic preparation for the threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of the nation, including acts of terrorism, cyber attacks, pandemics, and catastrophic natural disasters.  More information on PPD-8 can be found at the following website: Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 /PPD-5.

Purpose:  To enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents by establishing a single, comprehensive national incident management system.

Policy:  To prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies, the United States Government shall establish a single, comprehensive approach to domestic incident management. The objective of the United States Government is to ensure that all levels of government across the Nation have the capability to work efficiently and effectively together, using a national approach to domestic incident management. In these efforts, with regard to domestic incidents, the United States Government treats crisis management and consequence management as a single, integrated function, rather than as two separate functions.

FEMA Independent Study Online Courses The Arizona Minimum Requirements mandate that school employees who fill a role within the Incident Command System (ICS) structure are required to successfully complete three FEMA online trainings: IS-100SCa: Introduction to the Incident Command System for Schools, IS-200: Applying for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents, and IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction.

County Emergency Management On-site Training Upon completing IS-100.SCa, IS-200, and IS-700, district and school ERP teams are strongly encouraged to also complete the Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools course either through their local emergency management office or FEMA. Districts can schedule the two-day MAG-364 Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools course by submitting an DEMA (Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs) training request form to the county emergency management office. There is no cost to the district for this training.

FEMA Training Districts also have the option of sending teams to attend FEMA’s four-day course (E-361 Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools Course) in Emmitsburg, MD. FEMA covers the airfare, lodging, and training fees for training participants; the only expense is a $125.50 meal ticket per participant.

Advanced Training through DEMA Upon completing FEMA’s E-361 or DEMA’s MAG-364, key personnel on a district’s ERP team are encouraged to also complete MAG-300 (Intermediate Incident Command Station) and MAG-400 (Advanced Incident Command Station) through DEMA.

1. How can the Arizona Department of Education assist school districts with the development of school emergency response plans?

Arizona school districts, charter holders, parochial, and private schools can request assistance from the Arizona Department of Education School Health & Safety Unit with DEVELOPING, UPDATING AND RENEWING their district/school Emergency Response Plans.  Our Emergency Preparedness Advisors can assist districts by:

  • Providing guidance and/or training on the planning process
  • Serving as a resource for content needed in your Emergency Response Plan
  • Providing information on required trainings needed to meet state minimum requirements

Email ADE for assistance and an emergency preparedness advisor will come to your location to answer questions, assist with training or guide you through the planning process.  Request for assistance can be emailed to Davidson Riggs at [email protected]

2. Does the Arizona Department of Education provide training opportunities relative to developing school emergency response plans and emergency preparedness topics in general? How can I be made aware of such trainings?

The School Health & Safety Unit sponsors and/or co-sponsors a number of trainings each year to include the Annual ADE Winter Emergency Preparedness Conference and ADE Spring Regional Trainings.  In addition, ADE partners with the Arizona Division of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Readiness for Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center (REMS TA), and The Trust for the purpose providing additional local trainings.

Email Davidson Riggs at [email protected] to request being placed on the List Serve for email notifications of upcoming trainings.

3. What law mandates that all Arizona schools have emergency response plans in place that meet ADE Minimum Requirements?

Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), 15-341 (A) (31) requires each school site to have an emergency response plan that meets the minimum state requirements.

4. Are there opportunities to network with school districts around the state for the purpose of collaborating on the development of emergency response plans and identifying best practice?

Yes.  The Arizona Regional Consortiums for School Emergency Preparedness (ARCSEP) is organized into five regions in the state to include Phoenix (Central),  Phoenix (East Valley), Tucson (Southern), Flagstaff (Northern), and Yuma (Western).  The regional consortiums are sponsored by The Trust and meet quarterly to provide presentations on emergency preparedness topics of interest and lessons learned.  Email ADE Emergency Preparedness Advisor, Jim Lee, at [email protected] if you would like to participate in one of the regional consortiums.

5. Are districts/schools required to use the ADE Emergency Response Template when developing their district/school plan?

 No.  The ADE ERP Template is provided as a service to school districts by providing a framework and outline as to what should be included in their ERP.  The template incorporates many components required to be NIMS compliant.

Keep in mind that the template should not be used “as is” by simply filling in the blanks.  A district/school planning team comprised of district and community partner representation should carefully “vet” template components they intend to incorporate in their plan.  Specifically, action steps included in the functional and threat/hazard annexes.

6. Who should be included in a district/school emergency response plan planning team?

 It would be wise to keep your planning team to no more than 10-12 people.  Small districts/schools may have a planning team of 5-7.  Departments such as facilities, transportation, food services, communications office, community education, and special education are among the departments that would provide good insight on many components of the plan.  A representative from each of the school levels in your district (elementary school, middle school, & high school) would also be good to include.  Last but not least, community partners can include law enforcement, fire, public health and local emergency management would be excellent contributors to a planning team.

Keep in mind that there is not one specific composition of team membership for districts to put in place.  It is a district decision based on the knowledge of the expertise different people can bring to the table.

School Safety & Prevention Arizona Department of Education 1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 29 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Phone: (602) 542-8730 Fax: (602) 364-1938

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