ALICE Program

ALICE is a part of Albemarle County Public School’s Standard Response Protocols (SRP).

ALICE is ONLY USED during a Violent Critical Incident (VCI).

A VCI is defined as: “Any event at any location where a person (or persons) attempts to harm innocent people by any means regardless of motivation.“

ALICE, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate, is a nationally recognized and evidence-based training program designed to empower school personnel and students with strategies to respond effectively to situations that involve an active shooter or violent intruder. The program is a change from the traditional lockdown-only approach to a more comprehensive, options-based model, empowering individuals to make informed decisions based on real-time information during a crisis.

While the subject of school safety can be concerning, be assured that the primary goal of ALICE training is to mitigate risk and injury and to create a safer learning environment for everyone. After careful evaluation and consultation with security experts, law enforcement agencies, and school districts that have successfully implemented this training, the ALICE method has proven to be effective.

ALICE was implemented during the 2023-24 school year and all school employees received training in the program. New staff employed in our division will follow the established process in place to ensure they are trained in a timely manner.

The ALICE method is important because:

• ALICE training provides a range of options, empowering individuals to decide the best course of action based on their situational awareness. This allows for more options in responding to a crisis scenario, increasing the likelihood of avoiding harm or death.
• ALICE training involves practical applications that allow staff to prepare and respond effectively in dangerous situations. Through these simulations, participants gain confidence in their abilities, which can be crucial in life-threatening situations. To address the emotional impact that can be experienced in such situations, our school division enhances these drills based on recommendations from the National Association of School Psychologists to make them age-appropriate when delivered. 
• ALICE emphasizes the importance of communication during an emergency, ensuring that relevant information is shared quickly and effectively, allowing for better decision-making and coordinated responses.
• Our partnership with the Albemarle County Police Department in implementing ALICE ensures that our training aligns with the best practices employed by first responders. When responding to a critical incident, our emergency services know what to expect when they arrive.
• ALICE encourages active participation from everyone within the school community, including students, teachers, administrators, and support staff. This builds a sense of shared responsibility for safety, enhancing overall preparedness.

The ALICE training protocol equips our community with valuable skills and knowledge to respond effectively in rare but potentially dangerous situations. ALICE training is provided in an age-appropriate manner and is tailored to the developmental stages of our students.

How ALICE Is Taught at ACPS

ALICE provides an “Options-Based” approach to a violent critical incident. Instead of relying on a lockdown-only approach, ALICE empowers individuals to assess their situation and choose the most effective response to increase their chances of survival.

The Five Components of ALICE

Alert

Staff members at each school have been trained to look for signs of threats in their building by having a heightened sense of situational awareness. In the event of a violent critical incident, all staff have been trained on how to alert staff and administrators of the threat.

 

Inform

ALICE is built upon the idea that communication is key to increasing survivability. This means that anyone can provide information about an event to increase the ALERTness of the community.

As a division, we have eliminated all code words to make information clear to all students, substitutes, and guests. The intruder knows they are there; no code words are necessary!

All ACPS school phones now have the capability of all-calls throughout the school. All staff are empowered to report intruders to the school community. You do not need to relay this information to one person (ie, the principal), but can now notify everyone at once.

 

Evacuate

In a situation involving a violent critical incident, getting away from danger is the primary goal, when applicable. 

Prior to ALICE, our students were trained to stay in place regardless of the proximity to danger. Evacuation gives students and staff another option to avoid danger when possible.

Schools have established rally points where their staff and students will be informed where to go in the event of an evacuation due to a violent critical incident. 

 

Lockdown (and Barricade)

If the danger is close or if other circumstances prohibit or delay safe evacuation, students and staff will lockdown and barricade in their rooms.

This is different from a traditional lockdown. In a traditional lockdown, the focus was on being quiet, still and having the room appear unoccupied. During an ALICE lockdown, the response is to fortify the room to make it very difficult to enter to create more time for response or other options.

Teachers and staff are trained on how to secure their space with existing furniture and equipment to help barricade the doors to better fortify the area against intruder entry. 

 

Counter

This is the most unlikely response, but necessary to train for in the event an intruder comes in close proximity to staff or students and is intent on doing harm with a weapon.  If options do not allow for a safe evacuation, and you are unable to lockdown your space, you may need to increase survivability outcome odds through countering.

Countering does not mean fighting. It can be used to distract the intruder and allow time to evacuate or to control the intruder if necessary.

There is no obligation or expectation of a student or staff member to utilize the counter measure. Counter is also only applicable to older students.

The ALICE Training is age-appropriate, utilizing various methods to engage different age groups. It focuses on teaching students how to respond to violent critical incidents in a way that is tailored to their developmental stage. This includes using age-appropriate language, scenarios, and activities. The ALICE Training also emphasizes a trauma-informed approach, ensuring that training does not traumatize students. 

• Age-Appropriate Training: The ALICE Training recognizes that children of different ages have different developmental abilities and understanding levels. 
• Trauma-Informed Approach: The ALICE Training is designed to be trauma-informed, meaning it prioritizes the well-being of students and avoids causing further harm or trauma. 
• No Scenarios or Simulations: Navigate360, a provider of ALICE training, does not advocate for using real-life scenarios or simulations with students of any age. 
• Focus on Safety and Empowerment: The ALICE Training aims to empower students to respond to critical incidents by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge, while also emphasizing safety and well-being. 
• Age-Appropriate Language and Concepts: The ALICE Training utilizes age-appropriate language and concepts to ensure that students understand the information being taught. 

Elementary School (Grades K-5)

• Goal: Keep it simple, reassuring, and non-threatening.
• Alert: Use teacher cues like “Stop and listen” or “Follow me quickly.” No need to explain details about intruders.  Use clear, age-appropriate announcements.
• Lockdown: Practice hiding quietly in a safe spot with lights off. Reinforce with language like “We’re playing a quiet game.” Teach safe hiding spots, locking doors, and remaining silent.
• Inform: Students follow adult instructions. Teachers may use plain language or visual cues depending on maturity.
• Counter: Counter is not taught to elementary school-age children. Students are not expected to physically resist. Adults are responsible for their protection.
• Evacuate: Practice walking/running to a safe place or meeting spot. Keep drills low-stress and highly structured.

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

• Goal: Build confidence and understanding of choices. Use realistic (but not traumatic) scenarios.
• Alert: Use direct language (e.g., “There is a threat in the cafeteria—avoid that area.”) Teach students to report suspicious behavior.
• Lockdown: Reinforce strategies to secure and silently stay in place. Encourage critical thinking: Is this the safest option?
• Inform: Teach students how real-time information improves decision-making.
• Counter: Teach movement, noise, and distraction tactics as last-resort survival tools. Reinforce that this is not fighting.
• Evacuate: Practice rapid, independent evacuation. Emphasize awareness of alternate exits.

High School (Grades 9-12)

• Goal: Fully empower with knowledge, responsibility, and action planning.
• Alert: Teach students how to recognize threats and respond quickly, including self-initiating actions.
• Lockdown: Reinforce self-directed lockdowns. Use situational decision-making examples in training.
• Inform: Emphasize the value of timely, accurate information. Teach how it empowers decision-making.
• Counter: Teach distraction, mobility, and coordinated resistance if there’s no escape.
• Evacuate: Strong focus on evacuation as the primary goal if it’s safe. Include reunification procedures.

All ACPS staff working with students have been trained by completing the Navigate 360 (ALICE) online module and in-person training.  

At the beginning of each school year, teachers will review Standard Response Protocols with their students, which will include the concepts of ALICE. Age-appropriate lessons will be provided to elementary, middle and high school teachers.

The following ACPS video best describes the process of the five separate components to students.

 

School-Based Lessons

Elementary School Lesson

Middle and High School Lesson

Middle and High School Slide Deck

1. Why not stick with the traditional lockdown method of closing doors, shutting blinds and remaining quiet in the corner of a room?

Traditional lockdowns were implemented due to threats that were outside of a building. In this situation being quiet, drawing blinds and hiding were deemed the safest protocol. Traditional lockdowns can still be a reliable, safe method of safety during a crisis in a building but the ALICE model allows us to enhance these methods and provide more options. 

2. What type of training is provided to students?  Does it differ based on grade level?

Each fall, teachers at all school levels review Standard Response Protocols that include ALICE practices. These are presented in specific grade-level lessons by classroom teachers. 

3. Does our school division provide active shooter training?

ALICE is a proactive, options-based training program designed to prepare individuals and organizations—such as schools, businesses, and government entities—to respond to a violent intruder event. School staff receive mandatory training that involves scenarios and role play. ACPS does NOT provide simulations or scenarios to students in our schools at any level. 

4. Is the “Counter” component of ALICE required of all students?

“Counter” is an option that is shared with middle and high school students as a last resort toward someone intending to harm. Counter is not reviewed as an option for elementary students based on age appropriateness. Counter is not required of staff or students, but is provided as a voluntary option if necessary. 

5. How is the decision of Evacuate or Lockdown/Barricade decided?

One of the fundamental characteristics of ALICE is the ability to have flexibility for individual responses based on the specific circumstances and situation that someone is in. If safe to do so, evacuation is the best response to get out of harm's way. When circumstances do not lend themselves to evacuation, Lockdown/Barricade is the next option. 

6. If students were to evacuate, where do they go and how would the school be accountable for their attendance?

Schools identify a rally point that is away from the school building in a safe and accessible manner. School staff are trained to know where their rally points are in the event of an evacuation.

7. I’m concerned about how much information my elementary-age child will receive about ALICE. I want her to be informed but not traumatized by the discussion. How will the school handle this?

The ALICE Training is age-appropriate and uses various methods to engage different age groups. It focuses on teaching students how to respond to violent critical incidents in a way that is tailored to their developmental stage. This includes using age-appropriate language, scenarios, and activities. The ALICE Training also emphasizes a trauma-informed approach, ensuring that training does not traumatize students.  

8. What information is provided to students as part of the ALICE lesson and can parents have access to that information? 

Lesson plans for elementary-, middle- and high school-age students have been developed. These will be delivered by classroom teachers within the first few weeks of school.

Elementary School Lesson

Middle and High School Lesson

Middle and High School Slide Deck

9. What if a classroom has very young children or someone is physically disabled and may not be able to evacuate quickly? What would the students or class do at that point?

While evacuations can be one of the most effective means of avoiding danger, different situations and circumstances often limit the ability to do so. If the ability to mobilize is compromised for any reason, the students/staff would enact a Lockdown/Barricade posture.  

10. My child has come home before and mentioned they had a school “lockdown,” however, the school continued to operate as normal. Apparently, there was a threat outside the school. Is Lockdown the proper term to call the school’s response?

Often, students will use the word “Lockdown” synonymously with other protocols that take place in a school building, such as Shelter in Place or Secure the Building. Since ALICE has been deployed in ACPS, there have not been any lockdowns. Lockdowns occur when there is a violent critical incident within the school that forces students and staff to either Lockdown/Barricade or Evacuate.