Crisis Communications
Current Status
🟢 No Active Disruption
There is no urgent situation at this time. Read on to learn how we respond to emergencies and communicate with families during a crisis.
About This Page
This page is designed to help families stay informed during school emergencies or urgent situations. When a situation is active, we will post updates here to explain what’s happening, what actions are being taken, and what you need to do.
Even when no situation is active, you can visit this page anytime to learn how our schools respond to emergencies and how we communicate with families during a crisis.
What to Expect From Us
When a crisis happens, we work quickly to share accurate and timely information. You can expect:
- Messages by phone, email, and text through our Electronic School Notification System (BrightArrow)
- Updates on this web page during ongoing urgent or disruptive situations
- Clear, consistent language that explains what is happening and what actions are being taken
- Follow-up messages to provide updates and next steps
We will post updates to this page at least every 30 minutes during an active situation, or more often if new information becomes available.
We will only share what is confirmed and appropriate. Our goal is to keep families informed while protecting the safety and privacy of students and staff.
To help you know when new information is available, a banner at the top of this page shows the current status:
🟢 No Active Disruption – There is no urgent situation at this time.
🔴 Active Situation – We are responding to a situation at a school or other ACPS facility.
During an active situation, you may also see a pop-up message on our website. This will link you directly to this page for updates.
Emergency Terms to Know
Here are some of the terms we may use. These actions are part of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) used by ACPS and many other school divisions across the country.
Why Didn’t I Hear Sooner?
Sometimes, students may contact families before we send a message. This is because:
- We must confirm facts before sharing information.
- We work with school staff and emergency responders to make sure everyone is safe first.
- We want to avoid confusion by sharing facts, not rumors.
After the Situation Is Resolved
Once the situation is over, we will continue to share important updates. This may include:
- When the situation was resolved
- Any changes to the school schedule
- Next steps for families, such as reunification or counseling support
Student Reunification
If an emergency requires students to leave their school building, we will use a reunification process to safely return students to their families.
We will send messages to explain:
- Where to go: We will name the reunification site and provide directions.
- What to bring: You will need a photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) to pick up your child.
- What to expect: You may be asked to wait as staff verify identities and bring students to you one at a time.
To keep everyone safe, only authorized adults listed on your child’s emergency contact list may pick them up.
We will share updates throughout the process. Please do not go to your child’s school unless we ask you to.
Past Events Archive
Need to update your phone number, email address, or emergency contacts?
Contact your child’s school to make changes or to sign up for electronic notifications. Keeping your information up to date helps ensure you receive important messages during a crisis.