A uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school. Safe business. Safe community. The SRP is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to personal safety.
The SRP’s development is ever-evolving, created with extensive collaboration between experts such as first responders, public safety, school, districts, and communities. Its tactics are data-driven, researched and based on experience and contemporary practices.
The benefits of SRP become quickly apparent. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event.
For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For communities, it leverages the growing adoption of the protocols from residents of all ages. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident.
People easily understand the practices and can reinforce the protocol. Additionally, this protocol enables rapid response determination when an unforeseen event occurs.
The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on the response to any given situation not on individual scenarios. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), SRP demands a specific vocabulary but also allows for great flexibility. The premise is simple - these five specific actions that can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a "Term of Art" and is then followed by a "Directive." Execution of the action is performed by active participants.
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Hold is followed by the Directive: "In Your Room or Area" and is the protocol used when hallways need to be kept clear of occupants. |
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Secure is followed by the Directive: "Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors" and is the protocol used to safeguard people within the building. |
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Lockdown is followed by "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight" and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place. |
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Evacuate may be followed by a location, and is used to move people from one location to a different location in or out of the building. |
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Shelter and state the Hazard and Safety Strategy for group and self protection. |
We are committed to reviewing and verifying the Standard Response Protocol Operational Guidance every two years to make necessary updates, and we have done just that for 2025.
Fear not—this is simply a point version of SRP V4. No significant changes have been made, actions and directives remain the same, and the supporting materials (handouts, posters, etc.) are unchanged. The Standard Response Protocol 2025 includes fine-tuned messaging of the lockdown guidance, action sequencing advice regarding hoaxes, and new informative responses in the FAQ section.
While no significant changes have been made, and there is no need to reprint materials, we do encourage a review of the SRP 2025 Operational Guidance V4.2 to stay current with our most up-to-date information.
Downloadable versions of all materials are made available at no cost. Optionally, you can purchase printed books.
Guidance for schools, districts, departments and agencies.
This is a general guide on incorporating and operating the Standard Response Protocol within a school safety plan.
2023 guidance for schools, districts, departments and agencies. Please refer to the SRP K12 2025 Operational Guidance V4.2 for updated guidance.
The workbook has been designed to assist presenters in learning the SRP presentation.
Presentation slides for law enforcement, school, or district personnel to use when training students, teachers, and other stakeholders on the SRP.
This workbook has been produced to help preschool and elementary teachers guide students through the process of learning how to stay safe by engaging in fun activities.
Download PDF 30MB
An introduction to the SRP that gives parents the basics in a single handout.
This poster was created to print and place on walls to remind everyone of the different SRP actions, and allow teachers to start the conversation about SRP with their students.
Tabloid sized poster was created to print and place on walls to remind everyone of the different SRP actions, and allow teachers to start the conversation about SRP with their students.
Tabloid sized Spanish language poster was created to print and place on walls to remind everyone of the different SRP actions, and allow teachers to start the conversation about SRP with their students.
The Public Address poster is for placement near public address locations. This is a sample. Your district, department or agency should customize this poster for regional hazards. It is available to download in Microsoft Word Format.
In a reunification, Red/Green Cards are used for quick, visual identification the status of the teachers’ classes. Use the one that best suits your school’s needs.
In a reunification, Red/Green Cards are used for quick, visual identification the status of the teachers’ classes. Use the one that best suits your school’s needs.
In a reunification, Red/Green Cards are used for quick, visual identification the status of the teachers’ classes. Use the one that best suits your school’s needs.
The Secure poster can be placed near entrances during a Secure condition. If entry or exit is possible during Secure, use the Secure-Monitored Door poster.
The Secure poster can be placed near entrances during a Secure condition. If entry or exit is possible during Secure, use the Secure-Monitored Door poster.
Use this poster on exterior doors and/or windows to alert visitors that a Lockdown Drill is in progress.
You can use this to document the results of a drill, or create a version of your own.
Basic SRP instruction that folds to the size of a business card for convenience.
The SRP actions scaled to print on one side of an ID card.
The SRP actions scaled to print on one side of an ID card.
The SRP actions scaled to print on one side of an ID card.
Schools, School Districts and Higher Education facilities can use the Notice of Intent when they’re reviewing the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to incorporate into their safety plan, and wish to receive notice of updates.
Schools, School Districts and Higher Education facilities can use the Notice of Intent when they’re reviewing the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to incorporate into their safety plan, and wish to receive notice of updates. They are asked to complete and return the Memorandum of Understanding when they have committed to using the SRP.
This is a sample MOU to use between your school or district and your local law enforcement agency and other emergency service providers.
To restore and protect the joy of youth through educational programs and positive actions in collaboration with families, schools, communities, organizations and government entities.
