More than two decades after Arizona first required schools to adopt Emergency Operations Plans, a new state audit shows many campuses remain dangerously unprepared for active shooter events, natural disasters and other emergencies.
“Of the 47 schools that were audited, three didn’t have a plan at all,” said Mike Curtinbach, director of school safety at the Arizona Department of Education, who presented the findings to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. “The remaining 44 had plans, but none technically passed. The highest score was 17 out of 30 required standards.”
Standards for EOPs are jointly developed by the Arizona Department of Education and the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. They are intended to ensure schools can both prevent and respond to emergencies, from lockdowns to evacuations.
“Schools are regularly reviewing the most effective ways to protect their students based on each of their specific communities’ needs,” said Jimmy Arwood, director of governmental relations at Arizona School Boards Association. “The safety challenges that a school faces in Holbrook may be different than a school in Phoenix.”
Uneven compliance, weak oversight
The audit revealed that compliance varies widely between districts. Wealthier schools tend to have updated plans and training protocols, while under-resourced districts often rely on outdated documents or lack coordination with local police and fire departments.
“This lack of preparedness leaves students and educators vulnerable — not just in high-profile crises, but in everyday safety risks,” Curtinbach said.
Currently, the state does not consistently monitor whether schools are meeting minimum standards. Without enforcement, even long-standing requirements are often ignored.
“Every state handles this a little differently,” said Dr. Justin Heinze, associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and co-director for National Center for School Safety. “There isn’t one national playbook, just a shared expectation that every school has an emergency plan in place. What we try to do is make that easier — giving districts templates and examples they can adapt, and encouraging them to review those plans every year with a team that understands both education and safety. A good plan should be a living document.”