By Associated Press
Washington, DC – The nation's schools aren't making the grade when it comes to preparing for emergencies.
An analysis by the Government Accountability Office shows most schools could do more when it comes to planning for emergencies such as terror attacks, hurricanes or flu pandemics. About half of school districts don't have plans for educating students in the event of a lengthy closure.
Districts also generally haven't been working with first responders on how to implement emergency plans. And two-thirds of districts cite a lack of expertise and equipment as impediments to emergency plannings.
An Education Department official says that while districts are required to have emergency plans, the department doesn't evaluate the quality of those plans.
The Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mississippi's Bennie Thompson, says that will change and emergency plans will be reviewed.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)