School Safety Drill Research Act of 2021

To require the Secretary of Education to enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study on the possible mental health effects of a lockdown drill or active shooter drill in elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the School Safety Drill Research Act of 2021 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Pew Research Center found that 57 percent of teenage students worry about the possibility of a shooting happening at their school. (2) The National Center for Education Statistics found that 96 percent of public schools in the United States conducted lockdown drills in 2015 and 2016. (3) According to Steve Schlozman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, children in proximity to frightening circumstances are at risk for lasting symptoms, including everything from worsening academic and social progression to depression, anxiety, poor sleep, post-traumatic symptomatology and substance abuse. 3. Study and report on mental effects of lockdown drill or active shooter drill in elementary and secondary schools (a) In general The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies shall conduct a study on the mental health effects resulting from a lockdown drill or active shooter drill in elementary and secondary schools. (b) Elements The study conducted under subsection (a) shall include— (1) an assessment of the extent to which a lockdown drill or active shooter drill results in adverse psychological effects on students, faculty, and staff of elementary and secondary schools; (2) a comparison of the mental effects of a lockdown drill or active shooter drill, including— (A) the effects of active shooter simulations, full-scale lockdowns, and secured-perimeter lockouts; (B) the effects of announced versus unannounced drills; and (C) the effects of drills of varying frequencies; (3) an analysis of the effects of a lockdown drill or active shooter drill on— (A) students of different ages or grade levels; and (B) students with intellectual or developmental disabilities; (4) the identification of best practices for— (A) accommodating— (i) students of different ages and grade levels; (ii) students and staff with a history of prior trauma; (iii) students for whom English is a second language; and (iv) students with developmental and physical disabilities; (B) training faculty and staff to recognize traumatic stress reactions; (C) the provision of mental health supports during and after a drill by a school-based mental health services provider; (D) discussing school violence with students; and (E) keeping parents and the community informed about drills, including— (i) the type of information communicated to parents, emergency dispatchers, and the community before and after a drill; and (ii) the resources given to assist parents in talking with children about concerns or fears related to violence at school; and (5) an analysis of other studies and reports examining the effects of a lockdown drill or active shooter drill on student and staff mental health. (c) Report The agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall include a requirement that, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Academies shall— (1) compile a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a); (2) make such report publicly available on the website of the National Academies; and (3) provide a briefing to Congress on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this Act. (e) Definitions In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1) Active shooter simulation The term active shooter simulation (A) The activation of emergency alarms. (B) The presence of an active shooter or law enforcement officer, or both, inside a school. (C) The firing of a gun with blanks. (D) The sound of a gun being fired. (E) An attempt by an intruder to breach classroom doors inside a school. (F) The expectation that individuals inside the school will fight an intruder. (2) Elementary school The term elementary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (3) Full-scale lockdown The term full-scale lockdown (4) Lockdown drill or active shooter drill The term lockdown drill or active shooter drill (5) Mental health services provider The term mental health services provider (6) Secondary school The term secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (7) Secured-perimeter lockout The term secured-perimeter lockout

Summary: School Safety Drill Research Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Education to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on the mental health effects that may result from a lockdown drill or active shooter drill in elementary and secondary schools.