Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced its new security protocol “to effectively and efficiently respond to emergency and crisis situations.”
There are now five directives – Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter.
Previously, when there was an emergency, schools went into shelter in place or lock down. Shelter was the description given for a broad range of issues including weather, medical emergency or police activity.
Hold now means all hallways must be kept clear. Secure will be used for external threats, including police activity nearby. In that case, everyone will be brought into the school, and the doors will be locked, but normal school activities will continue, according to information on the MCPS website.
Shelter will be used for environmental hazards, including bad weather.
Lockdown protocol remains the same. Doors will be locked. Lights will be turned off, and people will get away from windows and other places they can be seen.
When a school is declared in lockdown, it means there is an immediate threat inside or very near the building.
In the case of an evacuation, students and staff will be ushered out of the building. This will occur if there is a fire, gas leak or something unsafe inside the building.
In the event of an emergency, all families will be contacted every 20 minutes with updated information, according to MCPS.
This video explains each of the levels.
🚨 Safety first 🚨
MCPS has launched a new, enhanced security protocol to better respond to emergencies and keep our students, families and staff safe. 💙
Here’s what you should know:https://t.co/hLmJKcmstC pic.twitter.com/QudhNkLZTK
— MCPS (@MCPS) September 2, 2025
