National Student Council Shares Insights on Gun Violence Prevention With White House and Federal Officials 

NASSP by Sarah Martin / Jan 14, 2025

National Student Council Shares Gun Violence Prevention Insights with Federal Officials: A 500-Word Summary for Educators

In December 2024, the National Student Council (NSC), a flagship student leadership program of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), provided key recommendations on gun violence prevention to the White House and federal agencies. This initiative followed President Biden’s Executive Order on September 26, 2024, which established listening sessions to address this critical issue. NSC President Anjali Verma outlined the council’s feedback in a detailed letter focusing on active shooter drills, mental health, and firearm safety.

Recommendations for Active Shooter Drills

The NSC emphasized the importance of refining active shooter drills to prioritize effectiveness and minimize harm. Recommendations included:

• Student and Educator Feedback: Collect ongoing input to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Reporting Protocols: Train students to recognize and report concerning behaviors, such as threatening social media posts or drastic behavioral changes.
• Best Practices: Use current data to guide drills, limiting hyper-realistic props, sound effects, and unannounced exercises.
• Developmentally Appropriate Language: Train educators to use sensitive, age-appropriate language during drills.
• Accessibility and Inclusivity: Provide accommodations for students with disabilities and ensure all teachers, including temporary staff, are trained.
• Collaborative Planning: Work with local law enforcement and school resource officers to clarify roles during incidents.
• Trauma-Informed Practices: Reduce emotional stress for students with prior experiences of gun violence or safety threats.

Addressing Mental Health Needs

The NSC underscored the link between mental health and school safety, advocating for:

• Increased Funding: Utilize Title IV funding to expand access to trained mental health professionals, such as counselors and psychologists.
• Post-Drill Support: Facilitate discussions post-drill to help students process events.
• Resource Awareness: Enhance awareness of available mental health resources.
• Student-Led Initiatives: Promote wellness clubs and peer-led groups to reduce stigma and create safe spaces.
• Risk Assessments and Training: Implement mental health risk assessments and peer-to-peer training to address safety proactively.
• Parental Collaboration: Educate parents about the consequences of students making threats, including legal implications.

Promoting Safe Firearm Storage

The NSC stressed the need for firearm safety education as part of broader gun violence prevention efforts:

• Annual Instruction: School districts receiving mental health funding should provide yearly training on firearm safety and suicide prevention.
• Age-Appropriate Education: Teach students about safe firearm storage and associated risks, including unintentional injury and mass shootings.
• Parental Involvement: Require parents and guardians to participate in firearm safety education, ensuring that firearms are securely stored at home and in vehicles.

Advocacy for Safe Schools

The NSC remains committed to advocating for safe schools and robust mental health resources. Their collaborative approach reflects the importance of engaging students, educators, parents, and law enforcement in creating safer learning environments.

This comprehensive set of recommendations highlights the role of student voices in shaping effective policies for gun violence prevention and fostering a culture of safety in schools.

Citation: Martin, Sarah. National Student Council Shares Insights on Gun Violence Prevention With White House and Federal Officials. NASSP, January 14, 2025.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com