COLUMBUS, Ohio — The School Safety Center (OSSC) has finalized the state training requirements for school staff members to be armed on school grounds, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Monday.
The ASSET curriculum, or "Armed School Staff Essential Training," comes after the passage of House Bill 99 earlier this year, which permits Ohio school boards and governing bodies to opt to arm specific staff members who complete training on the curriculum developed by OSSC.
“We have an obligation to do everything we can to prevent violence and avoid tragedies in our schools,” said Governor DeWine in a statement. “For districts that choose to arm a school staff member, this training will ensure that those individuals are thoroughly prepared to respond to emergencies specific to a school environment.”
The ASSET curriculum specifies that 24 hours of initial training is required for staff members who will be armed. An additional eight hours must be completed annually to recertify.
The training and recertification programs will include these areas of emphasis:
- scenario-based training
- instruction on mitigation techniques
- de-escalation techniques
- tactics of responding to critical incidents
- neutralization of potential threats and active shooters
- tactical live firearm training
According to the announcement, other modules will include accountability, reunification, psychology of critical incidents, crisis intervention, trauma and first aid care, history/pattern of school shootings, and realistic urban training.
If you work for a school and want to learn more about how to sign up for state training, visit ohioschoolsafetycenter.ohio.gov.