Having an emergency plan is only part of being prepared.


Region 4’s Active Threat Preparedness Certification Program helps school systems evaluate how their safety plans work in practice and identify opportunities to strengthen readiness. Through a certification process guided by evidence-based preparedness standards, participants examine current procedures while building a clear path toward continued improvement.

Explore Certification


22 Preparedness Standards


Meet established preparedness standards and demonstrate how they are applied in practice.


Designed for All School Systems


Built for school districts and charter systems, with participation also available to private schools.


Exercise-Based Evaluation


Put emergency procedures into practice through an Active Threat Tabletop Exercise.


Focused on Continued Improvement


Use evaluation findings to address safety gaps and strengthen readiness over time.

Who Is This Program For?


This certification is designed for school systems and safety leaders responsible for active threat readiness, including:

  • Emergency management and school safety
  • District or campus security
  • Operations and emergency planning
  • Systemwide crisis response
  • Administrative oversight of safety initiatives


Participation can also engage staff who play a role in carrying out emergency procedures across campuses.

What the Certification Program Covers


The certification standards address key elements of active threat preparedness and response.

Standard Response Protocol

Evaluate the implementation of the Standard Response Protocol and how it supports coordinated action during an emergency.

Emergency Medical Services Staging

Establish and evaluate designated EMS staging locations as part of emergency response planning.

Active Threat Tabletop Exercise

Put plans and procedures into action through a scenario-based tabletop exercise designed to examine readiness.

Safety Gap Identification

Review current safety efforts to identify gaps that may require additional planning or attention.

After-Action Review and Improvement Planning

Use findings from exercises and evaluation to develop an after-action report and improvement plan focused on long-term campus safety.


How Certification Works


STEP 01


Implement


Put preparedness protocols and procedures in place to establish a clear foundation for response.


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STEP 02


Train


Build familiarity with the procedures that guide action during an emergency.


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STEP 03


Exercise


Test plans through an Active Threat Tabletop Exercise in a realistic scenario.


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STEP 04


Evaluate


Review performance to identify what worked and where additional attention is needed.


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STEP 05


Improve


Use findings to address safety gaps and strengthen future readiness.


✓


See the Program in Action


See how Region 4 supported Lincoln School through the certification process and Active Threat Tabletop Exercise.


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Interested in Active Threat Preparedness Certification?


Connect with Region 4 to learn about certification requirements and what the process could look like for your school system.

Start the Conversation


For more information, email OEMSS@esc4.net or call 713.462.7708.

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