In light of shootings across the country, school officials and police are working on a new way to keep students safe.

A.L.I.C.E., which stands for Alert–Lockdown–Inform–Choice–Evacuate, is an alternative to simply locking down a school when a violent intruder is present.

“Sitting around for shooters to come by is not the best way to go,” said Assistant Principal Mike Parker. “It’s a different type of lockdown procedure. It just gives you options.”

Officer Matt McGraw of the Mattapoisett Police Department said simply locking down a school leaves faculty and students in the dark. With A.L.I.C.E., officials can use the intercom to speak to an intruder while also providing information for everyone in the building.

McGraw said A.L.I.C.E. gives everyone in the building more flexibility, whether that means climbing out of a window or throwing something to stop or distract an intruder.

“If you can get out and not get killed in the process, you’ve got a chance to survive. We want you to take that,” said Mattapoisett Police Chief Mary Lyons.

For example, instead of staying in lockdown, students could leave the rear of a building if they knew the danger was near the school entrance.

“Instead of being a static situation, it’s a dynamic situation,” said McCGraw.

Rochester Chief Paul Magee said A.L.I.C.E. employs “best practices.”

“I think we owe it to the students’ safety to get our people trained and implement the program,” he said.

Police will first train faculty at ORR who will then work with students. The program will eventually filter down to the elementary schools.

Lyons said it will be tweaked to be age appropriate for younger students.