School violence, an issue documented across the United States, has put a focus on school emergency preparedness for school principals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the school principal's level of emergency preparedness in New Jersey public schools and how the confidence and behavior of principals affect emergency preparedness. This study had three research questions that centered on the principal's behavior and confidence. The population for this survey was New Jersey public school principals ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade schools, vocational, technical or institute schools, public schools for the handicapped, and magnet schools. Each selected principal received a survey instrument with seven sections related to school emergency preparedness. The procedures for data analysis included the development of indices for data reduction of the three independent variables, chi square analysis to address the first three research questions, and two multiple linear regression of the three independent variable and each dependent variables for the fourth research question. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]