Standard Response Protocol

As part of our continued commitment to student and staff safety, District 300 is strengthening our emergency response procedures for the 2025-26 school year. These enhancements include the implementation of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and Standard Reunification Method, both developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation.

The Standard Response Protocol provides a shared vocabulary and clear set of actions that guide schools in responding to a range of safety-related incidents. Used by more than 50,000 schools, agencies, and organizations around the world, the SRP includes five key actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. These actions are designed to address a wide variety of situations, from medical events and weather emergencies to hallway disruptions and intruders.

District 300 is also adopting the Standard Reunification Method to ensure a safe and orderly process for reuniting students with their families in the event of an emergency. This sixth action, Reunification, works in tandem with the SRP to provide a comprehensive approach to safety and crisis response.

During the first weeks of school and throughout the year, we will teach and regularly practice these safety actions. Each year, schools are required to conduct various drills, including fire drills, severe weather drills, and lockdown drills. You can expect to receive communication from your child’s school in advance of any scheduled drill. Additionally, if we ever need to implement one of these actions in response to an actual safety event, you will be notified.

The safety and well-being of every student and staff member remain our highest priority. We encourage all families to review the Standard Response Protocol and reunification information below so we can all work together to ensure a safe, informed, and prepared school community.

Definition: The HOLD action is used when the hallways in the school need to remain clear. Classroom learning will still take place as normal during a HOLD, but students may not be able to change classes until after the HOLD has been lifted.

Why this action is used:

• An altercation in a hallway
• A medical issue that needs attention
• Unfinished maintenance operation in a common area during class changes
• Canine Protocol (Secondary Schools)

Definition: The SECURE action is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. SECURE uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection. During SECURE, all students and staff are brought into the secure building. Classes are able to continue uninterrupted inside the building.

Why this action is used:

• An unknown or unauthorized person on the grounds
• Dangerous animal on or near the grounds
• Criminal activity in the area
• Planned police activity in the neighborhood

Definition: LOCKDOWN is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. The LOCKDOWN action advises making rooms look unoccupied by locking individual classroom doors, offices and other securable areas, moving occupants out of the line of sight of corridor windows, turning off lights, and having occupants maintain silence.

Why this action is used:

• Active assailant or intruder
• Dangerous animal within a school building
• Report of a weapon

Definition: EVACUATION is called when there is a need to move people from one location to another. During an EVACUATION, students and staff are asked to move from one location to another in an orderly fashion.

Why this action is used:

• Fire
• Power outage
• Gas leak

Definition: The SHELTER action is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard. Sheltering requires that all students and staff follow response directives based on the threat or hazard.

Why this action is used:

• Tornado
• Severe weather
• Wildfires
• Flooding
• Hazmat spill or release
• Earthquake

Definition: Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents/guardians to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. The process of controlled release is called a REUNIFICATION and could occur on-site at the school or off-site at another location.

Why this action is used:

• Severe weather
• Power outage
• Hazmat event
• Danger outside the school
• Crisis occurs at the school