A Morris County school district is using a national program to protect its students and staff.

Denville schools do more than practice school lockdowns, they also use the ALICE system.

“It gives students and staff options in event of an intruder…whatever type of threat were to occur in the school,” says Denville Police Captain Keith Partin.

Each letter of the ALICE program stands for a different option in the event of an emergency.

A is for “alert.”

“Alert is you just recognize there is an intruder or some threat to the school,” Partin says.

L is for “lockdown.”

“Lockdown is you lockdown in a room where you’d be secure,” says Partin.

I is for “inform” or to tell other people that there is a threat in the school.

C is for “counter.”

“Counter is to fight back, to run away, to take any steps necessary,” Partin says.

E is for “evacuate.”

Partin says, “We wanted ALICE in large part to give them the opportunity or choice to evacuate if at all possible.”

Denville school administrators and police worked closely to develop the plan. Specific details of the plan were not provided to News 12 New Jersey for security reasons.

But officials do say that once a classroom is on lockdown, no one can enter, even if they have a key.

A handful of other New Jersey school districts are also training under ALICE.