K-12 Parent and Staff Perceptions of ALICE Active Shooter Response Training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of staff and parentsrelated to the implementation of the ALICE active shooter response training. Survey datawas collected from parents and staff members from District A, a large suburban district inthe Kansas City metropolitan area. The samples consisted of 841 parents and 2,235 staffin District A from September 2014 to March 2015.Results revealed that parents and staff who responded to the survey understood allthe concepts of ALICE. Both parents and staff agreed or strongly agreed that schoolshave the ability to handle a critical intruder incident and that overall schools are safer as aresult of the ALICE training. Both elementary parents and staff agreed more stronglythan middle school parents agreed that the school has the ability to handle a criticalintruder incident using the ALICE plan. There were no differences in parent perceptionsbased on gender. However, there was a marginal gender difference in staff perceptions ofthe ALICE plan. Female staff agreed less strongly than male staff agreed that staff andstudents would be able to implement all aspects of the ALICE plan in a crisis/intrudersituation. Parents and staff agreed that staff and students would be able to implement allaspects (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) of the ALICE plan in acrisis/intruder situation.School safety will always be a topic of concern, and stakeholder perceptions willalways play a crucial role in the successful implementation of shooter response planning(Underhill, 2012). School district leaders should consider the results of this study insafety planning in preparation for active shooter situations. The current study provides areference for stakeholder perceptions as district leaders formulate safety action plans in relation to ALICE. Although several school systems across the country have successfullyimplemented the ALICE plan, some districts are apprehensive about moving away fromtraditional lockdown protocols. Because District A is one of the first large districts inKansas to implement a comprehensive systemic rollout of the ALICE plan, results mayalso be helpful to other large districts and administrators nationwide. The positivestakeholder perceptions of ALICE in District A should encourage other school systems toimplement the ALICE shooter response plan.