SITUATION & NEED
Over the past several years, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has made substantial investments in improving statewide continuity of operations (COOP) planning, emergency operations planning (EOP) and all-hazards emergency preparedness for K–12 schools and districts. ADE recognized that its ability to support students, educators, and communities relies on strong internal resilience and a standardized approach to emergency preparedness across the state’s diverse school systems.
To address this need, ADE engaged CCS as its lead consulting firm for COOP and EOP strategy development, development of tools and templates, program implementation, and statewide training. ADE sought to:
- Strengthen department-level continuity capabilities.
- Develop standardized tools and guidance that could be adopted statewide.
- Establish a framework to assess, improve, and track school and district preparedness.
- Build capacity within ADE and local education agencies through training, exercises, and technical assistance.
As statewide needs increased—driven by public health emergencies, cybersecurity threats, staffing shortages, technological disruptions, and natural hazards—ADE required a coordinated, scalable, and sustainable approach to emergency and continuity planning
SOLUTION
CCS partnered with ADE across multiple multi-year engagements to develop a comprehensive suite of COOP, EOP, and emergency preparedness resources. Each project built upon the previous work, beginning with the development of the Arizona District and School Emergency Preparedness and Response Competencies which guided the development of an integrated statewide system of tools, templates, and training guided by
Arizona District and School Emergency Preparedness & Response Competencies (2023)
Working with ADE’s Department of School Safety and Social Wellness, CCS led the creation of the Arizona District and School Emergency Preparedness and Response Competencies, a statewide framework consisting of twelve core competencies for K–12 preparedness. The competencies were developed through:
- A comprehensive assessment of emergency preparedness guidance and best practices
- Literature reviews related to school COOP, EOP, after-action reports, and improvement plans.
- Analysis of national models and related frameworks.
The final competencies provide a structured approach for schools and districts to assess, improve, and track their all-hazards preparedness capabilities. These competencies now serve as a statewide standard and are gaining national attention.
School Continuity of Operations Training Series (2022–2023)
CCS partnered with ADE to develop a six-video statewide School COOP Training Series, designed to help school and district leaders integrate continuity planning into existing EOPs. Each video addressed a core COOP component, creating accessible training that remains available to all Arizona schools.
Regional COOP Workshops (2022–2023)
In collaboration with The Trust, a nonprofit serving Arizona public school districts, CCS delivered five regional school-based COOP workshops across the state. Workshop goals included:
- Familiarizing emergency planners with ADE COOP tools and resources.
- Discussing region-specific emergency scenarios.
- Enhancing operational readiness and response capabilities.
- Strengthening partnerships and collaboration across districts.
These in-person workshops helped unify emergency planning efforts and fostered meaningful connections among practitioners.
Statewide Tabletop Exercises and Emergency Planning Workshops
CCS designed and facilitated emergency planning workshops and tabletop exercises for all Arizona school districts. These exercises provided:
- Realistic scenario-based practice.
- Opportunities to test COOP and EOP procedures.
- Identification of gaps, challenges, and priority improvement actions.
The exercises helped districts refine their plans and increase readiness for real-world emergencies.
Statewide COOP & EOP Guidance, Templates, Tools, and Checklists, 2024
CCS developed a comprehensive library of COOP and EOP resources for Arizona schools and districts, including:
- ADE Continuity of Operations Plan Template
- ADE Continuity of Operations Plan Guidelines and Instructions
- Communicable Disease/Pandemic Procedures Functional Annex Template
- 2025 Emergency Operations Plan Self-Assessment Checklist and instructional video
These resources support schools, districts, and ADE divisions in developing or updating their all-hazards plans using consistent, modern, and actionable guidance.
OUTCOME
Through its ongoing collaboration with CCS, the Arizona Department of Education has significantly enhanced its statewide readiness, continuity posture, and emergency planning capability. Key outcomes include:
- Creation of a unified statewide framework for school emergency preparedness through the twelve competencies.
- Standardized COOP and EOP tools adopted by districts, charters, and ADE programs.
- Increased capacity among ADE and district staff, supported by training videos, workshops, and exercises.
- Improved readiness and resilience through clear documentation of essential functions, dependencies, and operational strategies.
- National recognition for Arizona’s forward-looking COOP and EOP planning tools.
- Sustainable internal capability, with ADE equipped to maintain and expand continuity programs independently.
Together, these projects established a statewide ecosystem of continuity and emergency preparedness resources that empower districts, elevate ADE’s operational resilience, and ultimately safeguard the well-being of Arizona’s students, educators, and communities.
