The Role of Districts in Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans: A Companion to the 'School Guide'

Several federal agencies jointly produced the "Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans" ("School Guide") (ED571878) in 2013. The "School Guide" recommends schools undertake emergency management planning within the context of district, local, regional, state, tribal, and federal agency emergency planning. The "School Guide" sets forth planning principles and sequential steps that schools can take to develop emergency operations plans (EOPs), which are critical to preventing emergencies from happening, reducing the impact (should a disaster occur), responding effectively, and facilitating rapid recovery efforts while continuing to protect the whole school community. This guide complements the earlier "School Guide" by recommending specific roles and responsibilities for district-level administrators and staffs. Districts' recommended responsibilities include the following: (1) Coordinating with schools and community partners to make EOPs a collaborative effort and help ensure integration with district, local, regional, state, tribal, and federal agency EOPs; (2) Providing planning parameters for use by schools throughout the entire district, e.g., minimum set of annexes, minimum set of prioritized hazards and threats; and (3) Supporting schools at each step as they develop EOPs that address all types of emergencies and are tailored to fit each school's individual needs. This guide recommends that districts apply the same planning principles; follow the same six-step process and complete the tasks associated with each step, that underlie the planning process described in the "School Guide." The "District Guide," however, provides more district-focused information. This guide also contains a checklist of activities and responsibilities for districts that allows them to stay on course and track their progress.