# School Safety Drill Research Act of 2023

This bill directs the federal Department of Education to pay for a major research study on how lockdown drills and active shooter drills affect students' and teachers' mental health. Right now, schools across the country run these drills regularly—some announced in advance, some as surprises—but we don't have solid scientific evidence about whether they're causing psychological harm to kids and staff. This bill aims to fill that gap by having the prestigious National Academies of Sciences conduct a comprehensive study and report back within 18 months.

The study will examine several key questions that parents and educators care about. Researchers will look at whether these drills actually cause anxiety, trauma, or other mental health problems, and they'll compare different types of drills to see which ones might be more or less stressful. They'll also investigate how drills affect different groups—younger kids versus teenagers, students with disabilities, students who've experienced trauma before, and English language learners. The goal is to figure out what approaches work best for protecting school safety while minimizing psychological stress, including how to prepare students beforehand, support them during drills, and help parents talk to their kids about what happened.

The bill allocates $1 million to fund this research and requires the National Academies to publish their findings publicly and brief Congress on what they learn. This is essentially an investment in understanding a practice that's become routine in American schools but remains controversial—some people argue drills are necessary for safety, while others worry they're traumatizing kids unnecessarily. The research could help schools make more informed decisions about how often to run drills, how to conduct them, and what support systems need to be in place.

School Safety Drill Research Act of 2023

Pettersen, Brittany

School Safety Drill Research Act of 2023 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.