Lockdown or active shooter drill? The distinction matters for children’s safety and well-being

Lockdown and active shooter simulations look and feel very different, though people often lump the two practices together.

By: Emily Greene-Colozzi, UMass Lowell, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 16, 2026

Words: 1,270

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Emily Greene-Colozzi, UMass Lowell

School shooting preparedness drills have been a routine though uncomfortable part of the back-to-school experience. Since the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, various kinds of preparedness drills have been mandatory in most schools.

As schools schedule and conduct these preparedness exercises, parents are likely to hear grim terms like “active shooter drill” and “lockdown drill.”

For most schools, these drills …

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