Taking action now can save lives, prevent injury, and minimize property damage in the moments of a crisis. The importance of reviewing and revising school and district plans cannot be underscored enough. This guide helps in navigating this process by giving schools, districts, and communities the critical concepts and components of good crisis planning, stimulate thinking about the crisis preparedness process, and provide examples of promising practices. Contents include: (1) Introduction; (2) Mitigation/Prevention; (3) Preparedness; (4) Response; (5) Recovery; and (6) Closer Looks. Appendices present: (A) Resources; (B) Emergency School Safety, Planning, Response, and Recovery Meeting Participants; and (C) Crisis Planning Interview Participants. Each section includes action checklists. (Contains 2 exhibits.) [This document was produced by the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, US Department of Education.]