While it’s not uncommon for some educators to voice concerns about unfunded state mandates, private school administrators are saying the requirements of the latest one won’t be too different from what they’re already doing. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation on June 21 that requires the state’s 1,800 private schools to conduct annual drills to prepare for potential school shootings and to review security.

Several private school administrators in the suburbs said, however, that the legislation will only reinforce the procedures and preparations the schools have been completing for years.

"We have been, for several years on an annual basis, going through lockdown drills," said the Rev. Corey Brost, the president of St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. "Now we will continue to do that."

Quinn signed legislation last year requiring all public schools to complete active shooter training, but now private schools fall under the same umbrella.

Brost said a typical lockdown situation involves informing teachers that a drill will take place, but students will not receive word of it.

On the day of the drill, the whole school must complete security measures, like locking classroom doors, and wait for feedback from law enforcement.

"When the drill is going on, a police officer will roam the halls to make sure proper procedures have taken place," Brost said.

Brost said there will likely be additional annual training requirements for the whole faculty next year.