An Ideal Model for Responding to Active Shooter Incidents in Schools

Date

2013-12

Authors

Dusek, Denise

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is two-fold. First, this study develops an ideal model of strategies for school personnel to respond to an active shooter incident. The second purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which public school personnel in Texas are aware of the strategies and therefore prepared to respond properly to an active shooter incident. Methods: The ideal model of response strategies for an active shooter incident was developed through literature review. An electronic survey questionnaire was sent to public school principals in Texas, who were asked to complete the questionnaire and forward the survey invitation to their school personnel. The questionnaire was designed to assess the training and knowledge of school personnel on how to respond to an active shooter incident. Findings: The findings show that 68.38% of respondents indicated they had received active shooter response training. However, the data reveal that some of the respondents’ responses to their awareness of certain strategies fell below this percentage. This suggests that additional training may be needed to ensure that school personnel are aware of strategies that may increase their ability to respond quickly and effectively to the crisis until the arrival of law enforcement.

Description

An Applied Research Project Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Fall 2013.

Keywords

active shooter, crisis management, emergency operations plan, mitigation/Prevention, preparedness, response, schools, Public Administration

Citation

Dusek, D. (2013). An ideal model for responding to active shooter incidents in schools. Masters of Public Administration, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.

Rights

Rights Holder

Rights License

Rights URI