Safety Protocols

This page will provide you with information on Austin Achieve Public Schools' emergency protocols. 

Information for Parents & Guardians:

Our school has adopted The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Scholars and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol. 

Common Language:

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on an all-hazards approach as opposed to individual scenarios. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), SRP utilizes clear common language while allowing for flexibility in protocol. 

The premise is simple - there are five specific actions that can be performed during an incident. Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including scholars, staff, teachers and first responders.

The SRP is based on the following actions:

Hold

 HOLD

  “In Your Classroom or Area”

 

Scholars are trained to: 

  • Clear the hallways and remain in their area or room until the “All Clear” is announced

  • Do business as usual

Adults and staff are trained to:

  • Close and lock the door

  • Account for scholars and adults

  • Do business as usual

 

Secure

 SECURE

   “Get Inside. Lock outside doors.”

 

Scholars are trained to: 

  • Return to inside of building
  • Do business as usual

Adults and staff are trained to:

  • Bring everyone indoors
  • Lock the outside doors
  • Increase situational awareness
  • Account for scholars and adults
  • Do business as usual

 

Lockdown

 LOCKDOWN

   “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”

 

Scholars are trained to: 

  • Move away from sight
  • Maintain silence
  • Do not open the door

Adults and staff are trained to:

  • Recover scholars from hallway if possible
  • Lock the classroom door
  • Turn out the lights
  • Move away from sight
  • Maintain silence
  • Do not open the door
  • Prepare to evade or defend

 

Evacuate

 EVACUATE

   "To a location”

 

Scholars are trained to: 

  • Leave stuff behind if required to
  • If possible, bring their phone
  • Follow instructions

Adults and staff are trained to:

  • Bring roll sheet and Go Bag (unless instructed not to bring anything with them, dependent on reason for evacuation.)
  • Lead scholars to Evacuation location
  • Account for scholars and adults
  • Report injuries or problems using Red Card/GreenCard method

 

Shelter

 SHELTER

   “State Hazard and Safety Strategy”

 

Hazards might include: 

  • Tornado
  • Hazmat
  • Earthquake
  • Tsunami

Safety Strategies might include:

  • Evacuate to shelter area

  • Seal the room

  • Drop, cover and hold

  • Get to high ground

Scholars are trained to: 

  • Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

Adults and staff are trained in:

  • Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

  • Accounting for scholars and adults

  • Report injuries or problems using Red Card/GreenCard method

 

Parent Guidance:

In the event of a live incident, parents may have questions about their role. Below you can find expectations for parents and visitors during a live incident.

Secure

 SECURE

   “Get Inside. Lock outside doors.”

 

Secure is called when there is something dangerous outside of the building. Scholars and staff are brought into the building and the outside doors will be locked. The school might display the Building is Secured poster on entry doors or nearby windows. Inside, it will be business as usual. 

SHOULD PARENTS COME TO THE SCHOOL DURING A SECURE EVENT? 

Probably not. Every effort is made to conduct classes as normal during a secure event. Additionally, parents may be asked to stay outside during a Secure event. 

WHAT IF PARENTS NEED TO PICK UP THEIR SCHOLAR? 

Depending on the situation, it may not be safe to release the scholar. As the situation evolves, Secure might change to a Monitored Entry and/or Controlled Release. 

WILL PARENTS BE NOTIFIED WHEN A SCHOOL GOES INTO SECURE? 

When a secure event is brief or the hazard is non-violent, like a wild animal on the playground, there may not be a need to notify parents while the Secure is in place. 

With longer or more dangerous events, the school should notify parents that the school has increased their security. 

 

Lockdown

 LOCKDOWN

   “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”

 

A Lockdown is called when there is something dangerous inside of the building. Scholars and staff are trained to enter or remain in a room that can be locked, and maintain silence. A Lockdown is only initiated when there is an active threat inside or very close to the building. 

SHOULD PARENTS COME TO THE SCHOOL DURING A LOCKDOWN? 

The natural inclination for parents is to go to the school during a Lockdown. Understandable, but perhaps problematic. If there is a threat inside the building, law enforcement will be responding. It is unlikely that parents will be granted access to the building or even the campus. If parents are already in the school, they will be instructed to Lockdown as well. 

SHOULD PARENTS TEXT THEIR SCHOLARS? 

The school recognizes the importance of communication between parents and scholars during a Lockdown event. Parents should be aware though, during the initial period of a Lockdown, it may not be safe for scholars to text their parents. As the situation resolves, scholars may be asked to update their parents on a regular basis. 

In some cases, scholars may be evacuated and transported off-site for a scholar-parent reunification. 

WHAT DO I DO IF I AM ON CAMPUS DURING A DRILL OR EMERGENCY? 

During drills and emergencies, families and visitors are expected to comply with the school directives until the drill is completed or the situation is clear. 

 

 

 

If you have any questions, please contact us through Let's Talk by clicking on the tab in the bottom left corner.

Si quieres leer esta información en español, haz click en la bandera de EEUU en la parte derecha al final de esta pagina y cambia el lenguaje al español.