About STEP
STEP: Student Tools for Emergency Planning aims at preparing families for multiple hazards by educating and energizing students in school who go home and act as leaders in implementing key preparedness strategies with their families.
Although there are many successful, comprehensive safety curricula in the US, STEP is different because it was designed by teachers, with the challenges and obstacles facing schools in mind. Learn how it all began.
Over 5,000 instructors, including classroom teachers, health teachers, physical education instructors, CERT volunteers, and local emergency responders, instructed STEP over the last two years. Instructors, principals, and superintendents noted the following reasons for adding STEP to their school year.
- STEP provides potentially lifesaving skills to students and families.
- STEP is offered at zero cost to schools.
- STEP requires only 1 hour of instructional time during the school year.
- STEP supplies up to 15 hours of optional materials that can cover a variety of subject areas and align with national and state standards.
- STEP provides teachers with all the instructional materials needed, including copies of student handouts, instructional booklets, and DVD’s.
- In most cases, STEP provides all students with “starter” kits: yellow backpacks with basic emergency supply items.
- STEP’s ready-to-teach format requires very little teacher prep time.
“I know that planning for emergencies is important, but it is something I just didn’t have time to really do myself. I was so glad to see my son take the lead in preparing our family and I loved how much he enjoyed contributing in this way”
Teachers’ Questions?
Teachers have found that their original concerns when approaching disaster education with their students were unfounded:
- Will my students be too afraid to hear about disasters?
30,000 students have gone through the program throughout 8 states and 2 years with no issues of students being overly anxious after going through the program. In fact, teachers found that students were already hearing about disasters (on the news etc) and had anxieties that weren’t addressed. Having the opportunity to learn and discuss disasters in a safe and structured environment actually decreases children’s stress and anxiety. - Will I have the time to do this curriculum?
Most STEP schools have classroom teachers, health teachers, or phys ed teachers instruct STEP lessons because the 1 hour classroom requirement is manageable. Many teachers have found that because the students respond so well to STEP and the materials fit so well with their required curricula, they find more time to dedicate throughout the school year.
If you are still concerned, there is also the opportunity for an outside instructor to give the faculty a break and teach these lessons. The benefit is that an instructor with emergency response or management background has personal knowledge to offer students in addition to the lessons. Please contact us for more information. - Will the emergency kit be affordable for my students?
Most emergency supply items already exist in your students homes. Gathering these items into one place is a big step to becoming prepared for emergencies! Instructors are also encouraged to explain that every family is different and will have different sized kits with different types of items. There is no need for each family to get every item on the list in the kits. Finally, we have been pleased with how creative teachers and students can be in finding ways to acquire items for their emergency ktis. Teachers have partnered with PTO’s to solicit local businesses to donate items. Students themselves have presented to local business leaders to ask for assistance. - Do you have more questions?
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“As you know, this past week’s [flooding disaster] has been a big challenge for all. The 5th grade students who had the STEP program, however, were outstanding. They did not panic, as many adults did. They were ready for whatever came their way and I, for one, am very proud of them. Thank you for making my job easy keeping them calm and feeling safe.”
“It has given the children confidence. And it’s something I feel I can do. I’ve watched so many disasters on television and wondered about the children going through it. This is something that will help them get through it and will give them the confidence to know what to do.”
“Region I has spearheaded the STEP program… which is successful because of its grassroots nature; it was created and accepted by teachers and communities… I think supporting innovative programs like STEP is what we need to do.”
