The Value and Purpose of an Options-Based Plan for Active Shooter and Active Killer Response

In today’s evolving landscape of school safety, the need for a flexible and adaptive response plan to active shooter and active killer situations has become increasingly clear. One of the most effective approaches is an options-based response plan, which empowers individuals to make informed decisions about how best to protect themselves during a crisis. This method acknowledges the dynamic nature of violent incidents and prioritizes training, preparedness, and the development of skills that allow people to act quickly and decisively.

The Importance of Individual Decision-Making in Crisis

One of the central tenets of an options-based response is the idea that individuals, including students, teachers, and staff, must be allowed to make their own decisions during a crisis. Every active shooter or active killer event is unique, and the ability to adapt based on the specific circumstances of the threat can make the difference between life and death.

Research and case studies show that when people have the freedom to assess their situation and choose the best option—whether to evade and escape, temporarily hide, or, as a last resort, counter and attack—they increase their chances of survival.

For example, in the Virginia Tech shooting (2007), some students and faculty used proactive options and decided to barricade doors or escape through windows. Their ability to quickly assess their environment and choose an appropriate course of action directly contributed to their survival.

The tragic consequences of not empowering individuals to make such choices can lead to passive responses, which can be seen in other incidents where there was significant loss of life.

During the Columbine High School massacre (1999), students were initially instructed to stay in place, which allowed the shooters to continue their rampage unimpeded. In contrast, those who evacuated early or found ways to barricade themselves had better outcomes.

Empowering Students Through Training: The Role of "We've Got Your Back?"

Empowering individuals, particularly students, to make their own decisions during a crisis requires regular and ongoing training in crisis response. This training must be delivered in a safe and non-traumatic manner to ensure that children, especially, can engage with the material without feeling overwhelmed or frightened. Programs like the We've Got Your Back? Program offer a mindfulness-based approach to crisis preparedness, focusing on building confidence, resilience, and practical skills that students can use in an emergency.

The?We’ve Got Your Back?program is designed to build on the knowledge and strengths our students already possess, promoting a proactive and supportive approach to school safety. The modules are based on five key principles—Consciousness, Compassion, Confidence, Courage, and Community—which help students develop situational awareness and emotional resilience. Each lesson also includes a closure activity and a mindful cooldown to ensure a sense of psychological safety.

Unlike traditional safety programs,?We’ve Got Your Back?focuses on strength-based learning without using fear tactics. It equips students with the tools to respond confidently and calmly in various situations, fostering a safer and more connected school environment.

Through regular rehearsals and the development of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for crisis response, students learn how to assess situations quickly and effectively. This empowerment is crucial, as it gives them the autonomy to decide whether to escape, evade, evacuate, hide, or defend themselves based on the evolving nature of the threat.

The "New Standard of Care" and Best Practices

The concept of the "new standard of care" refers to the evolving expectations and responsibilities of schools and organizations when it comes to protecting students and staff from violence. This new standard emphasizes not only the physical security measures—such as locked doors and surveillance systems—but also the psychological readiness of students and staff to respond to a crisis.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) supports the idea that students should actively participate in their own safety. NASP recommends that children be taught how to make decisions in a crisis and be empowered to use the skills they’ve learned through age-appropriate, non-traumatic training. This participation fosters resilience and helps students develop healthier coping mechanisms for the aftermath of a traumatic event.

"Best practices" refer to the strategies and methods that have been proven to be effective in both real-world scenarios and through research. Options-based plans, as part of these best practices, recognize that no one-size-fits-all solution exists for violent events. Instead, these plans give individuals a menu of options to choose from, each tailored to the unique circumstances they may face. Schools are increasingly adopting these options-based plans as the new standard of care, embedding them in emergency operations procedures and policies.

Case Studies: The Value of Freedom of Choice in Crisis

Several real-world cases demonstrate the effectiveness of allowing individuals to make their own decisions in the midst of a crisis:

1. Pulse Nightclub (2016): While not a school shooting, the Pulse Nightclub attack in Orlando, Florida, illustrates how individual choice saved lives. Many patrons were initially instructed to stay put, but some chose to ignore these instructions and fled through back exits or broke windows to evade and escape. Their quick thinking and decision to act on their own accord saved numerous lives. (Proactive Responses)
2. Stoneman Douglas High School (2018): During the Parkland, Florida, shooting, students and teachers who decided to evacuate, evade, and escape rather than remain in place were able to flee the building before the shooter could reach them. Conversely, those in classrooms who remained without taking further action, either due to lack of guidance or hesitation, were more vulnerable. The event reinforced the need for students to be empowered to assess their circumstances and make decisions in real-time. (Proactive Responses versus Passive Responses)
3. Virginia Tech (2007): As previously mentioned, the Virginia Tech shooting demonstrated the lifesaving value of choice. Some students chose to jump out of windows, barricade doors, or flee the building altogether, while others who waited for further instructions faced greater danger. Survivors have since advocated for options-based training in schools to help others respond more effectively in future crises. (Proactive Responses)
4. Sandy Hook Elementary (2012): In the Sandy Hook shooting, teachers like Kaitlin Roig made the decision to hide her students in a bathroom and lock the door, saving the lives of everyone in the room. Roig’s decision was based on her own assessment of the situation, rather than waiting for external guidance, and illustrates the importance of self-directed action during such events. (Proactive Responses)

In each of these cases, the ability to exercise freedom of choice and act swiftly based on personal judgment contributed to saving lives. These examples underscore the value of empowering individuals with Proactive Responses—whether children or adults—to take control of their own safety during an active shooter or active killer situation.

Empowering Resilience Through Training and Participation

One of the key benefits of allowing individuals, especially children, to participate in their own safety is the development of resilience. When students are involved in crisis training, not only are they better prepared to respond in the moment, but they also exhibit stronger coping mechanisms in the aftermath of a traumatic event.

Empowering students through regular, well-designed training gives them the tools to make critical decisions and contributes to their sense of control during an otherwise chaotic and frightening situation. This is particularly important for reducing the long-term psychological impact of school violence.

The Need for Options-Based Response Plans as Best Practices

An options-based response plan is not only an essential part of modern school safety protocols but also represents the new standard of care. These plans empower individuals, including students, teachers, and staff, to make real-time decisions that best suit their circumstances during a crisis. Through regular, ongoing training—such as the We've Got Your Back Program—schools can ensure that students are prepared with proactive responses without causing trauma, building confidence, knowledge, and skills that will benefit them in any emergency.

By allowing individuals the freedom to choose how to respond, whether through evacuation, evading and escape, hiding, or countering and defending, and by embedding this approach in policies and emergency operations procedures, schools are embracing best practices for crisis management. The NASP and other safety organizations recognize the importance of student participation in their own safety, reinforcing the fact that those who are empowered to act on their own behalf build greater resilience and are more likely to survive a crisis.

Incorporating options-based plans into school safety strategies is not only a necessity but an ethical responsibility in ensuring the well-being of students and staff. These plans reflect the understanding that every crisis is unique and that empowering individuals to respond effectively is the key to reducing harm and saving lives.

About the Author:

Michael C. Kimball is a seasoned expert with over 30 years of experience as a sworn law enforcement officer in California. He co-developed the Monterey Peninsula Regional S.W.A.T. team, where he served as both Tactical and Logistics Commander. He co-authored one of California’s first Active Shooter Protocols in the early 1990s. 1989, Michael founded his company, which evolved into M.C. Kimball and Associates, Inc. Michael is a nationally certified instructor in options-based training for active killer mitigation. He has conducted nationwide training with Homeland Security since 2010. His program, "We’ve Got Your Back?," launched in 2021, focuses on trauma-informed, inclusive safety training for schools, ensuring a team approach to school safety.

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