In this featured piece by Campus Security Today, Terry Swanson, president and CEO of Singlewire Software, examines how Michigan’s move toward statewide Standard Response Protocol (SRP) terminology is reshaping school emergency communication. He explains that by the 2026-27 school year, all Michigan schools must adopt the SRP’s five action-based directives: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. Swanson uses Saline Area Schools, led by Director of Technology Jay Grossman, as a model for how districts can embed this shared language directly into their everyday communication systems rather than treating it as a standalone policy update. He outlines practical lessons for other districts preparing for SRP adoption, including the importance of aligning training with real-time alerts and building accessibility into emergency communication planning.
Key Takeaways
- Michigan schools must adopt Standard Response Protocol terminology by the 2026-27 school year, using five action-based directives: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.
- Saline Area Schools, under Director of Technology Jay Grossman, embedded SRP language directly into its everyday communication systems rather than treating the requirement as a standalone policy update.
- Saline aligned digital signage and emergency alerts so SRP icons and terminology appear consistently across platforms, reinforcing alerts through screens, speakers, device notifications, and strobe lights.
- Terry Swanson, president and CEO of Singlewire Software, said mismatched language between training and real-time alerts can undermine response effectiveness during an emergency.
- Swanson recommends districts treat SRP adoption as an ongoing process, with regular drills, updated communication tools, and continued training to reinforce familiarity.
Original Story
As school districts nationwide look to address evolving safety challenges, being able to have a shared language when addressing emergencies is becoming a crucial component of ensuring a quick response. When staff, students and first responders all use the same terminology for events and actions, responses become more coordinated, confusion is reduced and help is delivered more effectively.
In Michigan, that expectation is about to become formal policy. By the 2026-27 school year, all schools in the state will be required to adopt Standard Response Protocol (SRP) terminology, marking a significant step toward statewide consistency in emergency communications used by schools and local law enforcement.
Developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation, the SRP is built around five simple, action-based directives: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter. Each term is designed to remove ambiguity during high-stress situations by ensuring students, staff and first responders share a common understanding of what actions to take.