Training kindergarten students lockdown drill procedures using behavioral skills training.

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Child Development
• School Safety

Background:

• School lockdowns are critical safety measures during active shooter events.
• Effective teaching strategies for lockdown procedures in young children are lacking.
• Early intervention is key for establishing appropriate safety behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral skills training (BST) for teaching kindergarten students lockdown drill responses.
• To determine if BST can improve students' correct actions and reduce noise during drills.
• To assess the maintenance of learned behaviors after training.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral skills training (BST) was implemented with three groups of kindergarten students.
• The study focused on teaching specific steps for responding during lockdown drills.
• Data collection included measures of correct responding and noise levels.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated significant increases in performing the correct steps during lockdown drills post-BST.
• A notable decrease in noise levels was observed after the implementation of BST.
• The positive effects of BST on student responses were maintained over time.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral skills training (BST) is an effective method for teaching young children appropriate lockdown drill responses.
• BST can enhance school safety by improving student compliance and reducing disruptive behaviors during emergencies.
• The findings support the integration of BST into school safety protocols for early elementary grades.