Fire and tornado safety plans are standard components of school emergency preparedness. A basic school safety plan typically involves homeroom teachers taking a class attendance sheet and leading students to a designated outdoor meeting area.
A common weakness of school safety plans occurs when students are at recess, lunch or the gym class, and an emergency or drill occurs. Playground and lunchroom supervisors typically do not have an attendance roster to check against students in the area.
Students are often ill-prepared to evacuate a building from an area other than a classroom or if their designated exit is blocked by flames. Multiple area evacuation plans would strengthen a school emergency plan.
School safety officers provide additional safety to students, if a district budget allows such employment.
Metal detectors provide additional safety in schools where gun violence is a concern.