Rep. Boylan applauds Biden-Harris administration move to improve active shooter drills at schools
STATE HOUSE — Rep. Rep. Jennifer Boylan applauded last week’s executive order from the Biden-Harris administration directing federal agencies to improve active shooter drills in schools.
Rep. Jennifer Boylan
“I am pleased to see the administration focus on so many of the items that we addressed this year in the legislature through a study commission on school safety and a new law governing school safety drills,” said Representative Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence). “The executive order recognizes that while active shooter drills are commonly used, there is limited research on how best to design and implement them. Providing more extensive information and guidance will help states like Rhode Island to develop and implement more effective active shooter drills to keep students and teachers safe.”
The executive order directs the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Surgeon General, to develop and publish information for schools regarding active shooter drills in order to ensure drills are age and developmentally appropriate and follow trauma-informed best practices for both students and teachers.
The legislation (2024-H 8102A, 2024-S 2950A) sponsored by Representative Boylan and Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), which was signed into law in June, clarified gaps in Rhode Island law regarding school safety drills in order to ensure students and staff are prepared for emergencies while limiting the traumatic effects of training drills on staff and students.
The law built on the work done by a study commission Representative Boylan chaired; her 2023 resolution (2023-H 6422) to create that study commission brought together experts and stakeholders to determine what changes needed to be made to Rhode Island law in light of the national landscape of school shootings as well as recent swatting events in Rhode Island.
“Chairing the study commission was invaluable to get a better understanding of the issue and the perspectives of stakeholders including students, teachers, school administrators and first responders, all of whom want our kids to be safe at school,” said Representative Boylan. “This new law addresses many of the issues that we considered during the study commission meetings, especially the issue of how to keep students safe while minimizing the impact on the mental health of students and staff.”
Among other changes, the law mandates that emergency drills be age and developmentally appropriate. Schools must implement trauma-informed practices wherever possible, and drills must include all school personnel, including school mental health professionals and substitute teachers.