ACPS is getting ready to roll out the next stage of training to prepare staff and students in the event of an active shooter incident. ACPS already has 150 trained staff members, which includes at least two or three staff members at each school.
This week, all members of staff who are not already trained will receive an email with details of an e-learning training from the ALICE Training Institute. ACPS emergency procedures are based on training provided by the ALICE Training Institute and the goal is to have the majority of ACPS staff trained in its recommended procedures as early as possible.
The two-part training is mandatory for all current ACPS staff and will be incorporated into the onboarding process for all new staff in the fall.
The ALICE Training Institute is the number one active shooter civilian response training for all organizations, providing options-based strategic methods against an active shooter event. The new emergency response procedures at ACPS reflect national best practices regarding options for action in the event of a violent incident.
The training is in two parts:
Part 1: E-learning (February 26 to April 1, 2018)
This is an online course, which explains the options available in the event of an active shooter situation. The e-learning part of the training is mandatory and must be completed by all ACPS staff by April 1. The training requires staff to take a test in order for the course to be registered as complete.
This training must be completed prior to any practical, scenario training. All staff will receive an email this week with the link to this training.
Part 2: Scenario training (Times and dates for this training will be confirmed at a later date)
This is a thee-hour practical training conducted in person at an ACPS school facility. The training will be offered four times before the end of the school year. Attending one of these training sessions will be mandatory for all staff. All staff attending this part of the training must have completed the e-learning part of the course.
All courses are in PLMS and will contribute to professional development and be eligible for recertification points. Please DO NOT contact James Bartlett for this. Your progress will be tracked via ALICE and all recertification points will put into PLMS towards the end of June.
Tip Line
Keeping students and staff safe is always a top priority for ACPS. ACPS was recently rated the safest school division in Virginia by a well-known ratings site. However, this does not mean we can sit back and relax. We know that our students are often our best partners in identifying potential issues. We are encouraging students, staff and parents to use the ACPS tip line in the ACPS mobile App to report anything suspicious. This can be done anonymously. Please feel free to show students how to use this tip line if you deem it appropriate. In addition, the City has a 24-hour hotline to report bullying or any crisis events for young people (age 5-18) at 703-746-5400.
Walkouts
ACPS is aware that a number of students may be planning to participate in a walkout on March 14. While ACPS is not officially opposing, nor endorsing, any of the calls to action in response to these events, we will be supporting students by providing them a safe space to exercise their constitutional rights on this day, while also respecting the right of other students to continue with their education during these activities.
School staff should neither encourage nor discourage participation in any walkout. Students have the right to participate as long as their activities do not disrupt the instructional day. Schools are encouraged to work with students to find peaceful opportunities for students to express their opinions with minimal disruption to the instructional day. ACPS will send out more information on this closer to the time.