NASP spotlights school crisis readiness program PREPaRE

The National Association of School Psychologists is promoting PREPaRE, a research-backed framework and training program designed to help K-12 schools prepare for crises, respond to emergencies and support psychological recovery. The push comes as schools look for more coordinated ways to address safety and student mental health.

Why it matters: - Schools face crises that can include natural disasters, accidents, violence and deaths. - NASP says PREPaRE gives schools a way to plan before emergencies happen instead of improvising under stress. - The framework is built to support both physical safety and psychological recovery for students and staff.

What happened: - The National Association of School Psychologists highlighted PREPaRE, its school crisis preparedness framework, on Aug. 24, 2026. - PREPaRE is designed for K-12 schools and integrates school safety, crisis management and mental health supports. - NASP said the framework is detailed in The PREPaRE Model, Third Edition, a two-volume book set. - Stephen E. Brock, PhD, NCSP, a PREPaRE co-author, said effective crisis preparedness requires prevention, coordinated response and psychological recovery for the whole school community.

The details: - Volume 1 covers comprehensive school safety and crisis planning, including prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery. - Volume 2 covers crisis intervention and recovery, including trauma-informed and multitiered approaches to psychological needs after a crisis. - NASP said the books are meant for school mental health professionals, administrators, educators, school resource officers and multidisciplinary crisis teams. - NASP also offers PREPaRE workshops in the United States and internationally. - More than 75,000 professionals worldwide have been trained through PREPaRE workshops. - The book set is available through NASP. - Information about PREPaRE workshops is available from NASP. - NASP said PREPaRE authors are available for media interviews on school crisis prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

Between the lines: - The emphasis on mental health reflects a broader shift in school safety from emergency response alone to longer-term recovery and student well-being. - A structured model can help districts create consistent crisis plans across schools instead of relying on ad hoc decisions during an emergency. - Training more than 75,000 professionals suggests the program already has reach in schools seeking ready-made crisis protocols.

What's next: - Schools and districts can adopt the books, use the workshops or do both to strengthen crisis planning. - NASP is positioning PREPaRE as a resource for schools looking to improve readiness before the next emergency occurs. - Media outlets can request interviews with PREPaRE authors for more detail on crisis readiness and recovery.