No Arizona Schools Evaluated Emergency Plans, Falling Short of State Standards

By Staff Reporter |

A newly released report from the Arizona Auditor General reveals a troubling lack of compliance among state schools regarding emergency preparedness. According to the findings, no school has fully implemented or tested their Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), violating state minimum standards developed by the Departments of Education (ADE) and Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA).

The report highlights that most schools meet fewer than half of the established EOP Minimum Standards, with many charter schools lacking any EOPs altogether. The auditor general notes deficiencies in critical areas such as emergency procedures training for staff, required safety drills, and the availability of essential safety reference materials.

“Most schools we visited had not provided emergency procedures training to all staff, including substitute teachers; had not conducted all required safety drills; and had not posted certain safety reference materials, which could affect their preparedness to respond to emergencies,” the report states.

The report underscores the urgent need for increased outreach, guidance, and training on emergency planning for all schools. However, the responsibility extends beyond the schools themselves. The auditor general emphasizes that both ADE and DEMA must enhance their efforts to ensure compliance, including clarifying charters’ responsibilities in developing EOPs and evaluating necessary resources for monitoring compliance.

While ADE has agreed to the auditor general’s recommended changes, DEMA has not. DEMA claims it did not have properly reviewed the unredacted auditor general’s report or the EOPs that led to the findings. In response, the auditor general clarified that only information unrelated to DEMA’s duties was redacted.

DEMA contends that state law does not mandate it to create EOPs for every district or charter, asserting that this responsibility lies primarily with the State Board of Education and ADE. “Industry practice is to develop generalized planning standards which allow each school district the flexibility to tailor their EOP to their unique circumstances or particular needs,” DEMA explained.

The auditor general’s response addressed DEMA’s refusal to broaden its role in emergency preparedness, stating that the review primarily aimed to assess the need for better outreach and training for schools.

Additionally, the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools has also declined some recommendations from the auditor general. The charter board recognizes the importance of EOPs but cites a lack of resources and expertise for monitoring compliance with minimum standards. It advocates for a centralized state process to ensure that both charter and district schools adhere to the same review and oversight protocols.